No Face by Junot Diaz

I believe that “No Face” is running from himself and from everyone around him. Everywhere he goes people make fun of him because of the way he looks. Behind this mask is a scared face. No Face has to relive this traumatic event over and over again in his dreams. He wants to be a normal boy; he wants to be “complete” again. He runs away because no one accepts him except Padre Lou, from the church. He was kind to him. All No Face wants is to get sent away for his operation and the procedure seems to get pushed back over and over again. All he wants is a normal face where he does not have to wear a mask anymore and he can be like all the other normal children. Even at the hospital all he wanted to do was hide under the bed so no one could see him. The symbolism I see is how much what happens in the story relates to everyday life. People today get looked at funny or teased because of a scar on their face or an imperfection. The story makes you feel bad for No Face almost as if you can understand where he is coming from. You hurt for him. To see anyone being teased, bullied, beaten or laughed at because of a certain feature or medical illness is just a horrible thing. Junot Diaz has a way of telling stories that relate to the world today. Although in all his stories he may make you chuckle, they all have some sort of deep connection to them. You cant help but agree with No Face in the story. I probably would have kept on running away too if people were throwing things at me, teasing me, and saying hurtful things. I would want to hide and never be found. This story is a lesson; a lesson that just because of imperfections on the outside does not mean you are not beautiful on the inside. Everyone has feelings and some people have no control over the way they are. I wish Junot Diaz would have let us know what happened at the end, instead of keeping us (the reader) wondering how much longer he was running away and if he ever did, have that operation.