In order to explore the third place that exists in “Drown,” I will first analyze Díaz’s understandings of language in relation to his immigrant experience. This third place allows for the immigrant, like Díaz, to make sense of his mezcla of identities for Junot Díaz, this third place was found in literature. Through applying Díaz’s uses and understandings of Spanish, English, and Silence to his short story “Drown,” I argue that the Hispanic immigrant experience can be understood through an establishment of a “third place” ( Reagon). It is this language that proved to be the most powerful means of exploring issues of self. Díaz further revealed the importance of a third language: the language of Silence. Moreover, rather than simply recounting the struggles of adapting to a new language or customs, Díaz recounted how, at an early age, he used language as a tool to makes sense of his new hybrid identity. At a Drue Heinz Lecture in which the author was featured (and which I attended), Junot Díaz explained his understanding of the languages from an immigrant perspective, as well as his uses of the languages in his short stories. Díaz employs the languages of Spanish and English, often using Latino street slang to further the story’s urban tone.

Though Díaz explores issues of queerness, desvergüenza, and familial relations within this selection, perhaps the most intriguing topic in the short story is that of language.

In “Drown,” the title story of his narrative collection, Junot Díaz recounts the story of a Hispanic youth growing up in New Jersey.

Negocios by junot diaz