Intergenerational Voices and Ethnic Identity: A Feminist Perspective on Sandra Cisneros’s Caramelo

This thesis examines Sandra Cisneros’s "Caramelo, or Puro Cuento", a novel of Chicana literature that explores cultural identity, ethnicity, language, family, and femininity. The story reflects the Mexican American experience, where life between Mexico and the United States shapes everyday life and a sense of belonging to two cultures. Ethnicity is shown through family traditions, social interactions, and the use of Spanglish, which works both as a way of speaking and as a marker of identity. Family plays a central role in the novel, representing both love and support, as well as conflict, secrets, and exclusion. The character of Candelaria, marginalized because of her origins, embodies these hidden aspects of family and community life. The thesis also focuses on the role of women. Cisneros reinterprets traditional figures such as La Malinche, La Llorona, and La Virgen de Guadalupe to emphasize women’s strength and resilience. Female characters like Lala and Soledad represent different ways of connecting with family, culture, and memory: Soledad preserves traditions, while Lala develops her own voice to bridge past and present. Caramelo tells a story about the experiences of Mexican American communities and women, showing how literature can capture the complexities of life between cultures and generations, while giving voice to perspectives that are often overlooked.