Gilb Discussion Questions

"Me Macho, You Jane" is a little more literary than we've been reading this semester, so you'll notice it's quite different in style. I think, though, that there's quite a bit we can take away from this piece as a portrait of Machismo/masculinity.

Here are our discussion questions for the reading:

1. How would the narrator define "macho?" Does he think it's a positive or a negative trait?

2. How do the women in the essay react to his "machismo" differently from the men?

3. Think about "The Asshole" and the student in the essay. Which does the narrator find more difficult and why?

4. Why does the narrator curse at the boy's father at the basketball game? What happens as a result?

5. How would YOU define "machismo?" How is it similar/different from the portrait Gilb paints of it with his essay?