The book “Hunger of Memory” by Richard Rodriguez explores the idea of language and identity. Rodriguez discusses his personal experiences as a Mexican-American navigating through school systems that taught him English and expected him to give up on his native Spanish language. Through his vivid descriptions, readers get to understand how hard it is for immigrants to reconcile their old language with their new one, and how this affects their identity both in terms of self-expression and inner peace.

Rodriguez’s narrative starts from his childhood when he came face-to-face with the harsh reality of having to assimilate into an English speaking culture. He was given no choice but to learn the language and forget about his own home tongue, despite being raised by parents who spoke Spanish only in private out of fear that they would be ostracized if discovered speaking it in public. This trauma led Rodriguez to lose touch not just with his first language but also with other aspects such as customs which are deeply entwined within a community’s linguistic context.