A House Called Tomorrow

Thesis Statement

In Alberto Rios’s poem “A House Called Tomorrow,” Rios utilizes literary elements and techniques to develop the complex process of building an identity as seemingly inherited but ultimately empowering.

Topic Sentence #1

Rios first presents identity as something inherited through repetition, emphasizing how it is constructed prior to personal agency.

Evidence #1

To illustrate, through the repetition of “you,” Rios suggests that identity is already assigned to the speaker, creating a sense of inherited identity rather than self-made identity.

Evidence #2

Moreover, Rios further develops this idea by indicating that the speaker carries “everyone who has come before you [him]” in “every breath and…every step,” emphasizing that identity is continuously shaped by inherited influences. This repetition reinforces how inescapably bound identity is to past generations.

Topic Sentence #2

However, Rios also underscores that while identity is inherited, it can still be reshaped into something empowering rather than remaining fixed.

Evidence #3

For instance, in the line “…we can make a house called tomorrow,” Rios utilizes an extended metaphor to shift identity from something inherited to something that can be intentionally constructed and empowering.

Evidence #4

Furthermore, through the usage of imperative diction and parallel structure in “Be good, then better. Write books. Cure disease,” Rios emphasizes empowerment, presenting identity as tied to progress and purposeful action.

Concluding Sentence #2

Ultimately, Rios presents identity as fluid, shaped by both inherited influences and the individual’s ability to actively create a more empowered future.

Quick Conclusion

Ultimately, through repetition, extended metaphor, imperative diction, and parallel structure, Rios presents identity as a complex process that is initially inherited but ultimately shaped into something empowering.