Power

In our class discussion we discussed what cultural landscape meant. Defining its meaning, I came to find cultural landscape as a geographic area defined by lifestyle of those who live there. In the novel Power, we see Omishto feeling comfortable and safe in her boat. She feels as "a whole continent" being surrounded only by water. The cultural landscape defines Omishto being an independent girl. Ama feels connected with nature and the "spirit world." Her home not being filled with lights, or a television, her affection was shown towards the outside of her home filled with Cuban lizards and plants looking like gold. Ama was viewed as a simple woman in the eyes of most of the people.

Omishto and Ama both do not live around others. Living in a boat or a house with a strong desire for nature, they are different people and do not care what others think of them. Their relationship truly is shown as Omishto stays with Ama as she kills the panther which she knows is wrong.

As I identified cultural landscape and its relations with the characters in Power, I looked back on our first personal essay. In our first essay we wrote about a place or space significant to us in order to tell others something about ourselves. I feel this relates to Omishto and Ama explaining their place and space. This allows the reader to identify who they are based on the place and space they live in and how it brings out their character.