Lucy McElroy - Importance of Names in Caramelo

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Cisneros tells a beautiful story about growing up, constantly being torn between two cultures—Mexican and American. She uses the Spanish and English languages to separate the cultures throughout Caramelo. I was fascinated specifically by the way names were used in the novel to reflect relationships between characters. I think that this is a telling illustration of the strict rules of language in Mexican culture.
Most people use the name “Lala” when referring to Celaya Reyes in the novel. In the beginning of the book, she explains that “the younger ones couldn’t say the older ones’ names,” meaning her younger siblings shortened Celaya’s name, and it stuck (27). Her aunts, uncles, and other family members all refer to her as Lala. 

I think it’s important to note that Celaya was not given any name at all until the sixth chapter of the book, and even then, it was only “Lala,” and was used by one of her brothers to introduce an embarrassing story about her (24). Her full name was not revealed until page 27. The way that Cisneros avoided giving the reader Celaya’s name represents her character’s identity crisis, her cultural confusion. I’m not sure if it’s a simple misprint, but the synopsis on the back of my book has her name spelled as “Ceyala” as opposed to “Celaya.” It’s extremely ironic.



As Lala is facing death, running across the interstate maniacally, she hears someone call her by her real name:

“Celaya. Somebody or something said my name. Not ‘Lala,’ not ‘La.’ My real name. Who the hell was that, I think to myself. Who was that?."

She can’t even begin to pinpoint who would be using her full name to address her. It shocks her, it “hisses and sizzles and makes [her] jump. Celaya” (357). Later, is revealed that the voice was of the deceased Awful Grandmother, Soledad. This calling of her full name reflects the Grandmother’s unwillingness throughout the novel to resort to the “barbaric” language of “los gringos” (273). Soledad haunts Lala from then on, criticizing her disobedience of Mexican and Catholic morals. The use of her name, “Celaya,” represents the model she’s supposed to fit into, bound by the restrictive cultural values.

In contrast to this, there is another name for Lala, carrying another meaning:

“—Lalita, he says, calling me by my baby name. —Lalita. All the parts of me coming back from someplace before I was born, and me little and safe in the warmth of that name, well loved, myself again.”

In this passage, Ernesto calls her “Lalita” (382). This is the name her Father refers to her as endearingly. For Celaya, being called Lalita reminds her of being a child and she finds comfort in the name because she loves Inocencio for always doing everything he can for her. Ernesto is a reminder of that love Lala felt as a child.

Celaya. Lala. Lalita. The name crisis is an indicator of her identity crisis. Each name she’s given in Caramelo proves to represent different aspects of her character.

Comments

  1. UnknownSeptember 26, 2016 at 5:42 PM

    I like that you point out how Celaya's nickname came about. I think that sometimes in today's world the same thing happens for the reasons behind some peoples nicknames that end up sticking with them as they get older. For me right now I have a nephew that from the moment he was 2, could only say the "Ona" part of my name, so now that he is 4 and knows my full name, he still chooses to say "Ona" instead. Also I like that you discuss the different names that people call Lala. The way that Ernesto calls her Lalita also seems very cultural to me, because in Spanish class I've learned that most times when "ito or ita" is added to a word it represents something small and cute, and Celaya felt that being called that reminded her of being a child.

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  2. UnknownSeptember 27, 2016 at 7:57 AM

    I agree with Keyona in that I really focused on that moment where Celaya felt comforted by Ernesto calling her Lalita. I was thinking that perhaps she found comfort in that nickname at that time was because she was clashing with her father, thereby causing her to seek out this love from another man in her life. Since we're on the topic of nicknames, I also think it's important to note Ernesto is Celaya's own nickname for him. I remember the moment where Celaya realized his actual name was Ernie, because she said it lacked a certain passion. Overall, I think you make some very interesting points!

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  3. Lucy McElroySeptember 27, 2016 at 10:05 AM

    Keyona and Danielle, thank you for that wonderful insight! I didn't know that about the "-ito/-ita" in the Spanish language. It makes so much sense, though. And Danielle, that's a great point. Celaya is shocked when Ernie actually goes by his *real* name, and that he doesn't have a nickname. Thank you both again, these things will definitely help me in writing my paper. :-)

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