Dreams and Aspirations

Each of the principal characters of Bodega Dreams has their own dreams and aspirations they are working toward, and conflict often occurs when these characters' dreams clash with one another. The author does not sermonize or in any way suggest that one character's goals are more or less valid than any other's; if there is a moral to this story it is that simply having a dream is a vital part of pursuing a meaningful life.

The novel contrasts Willie Bodega’s dream with his personal outcome to show how worthy dreams can be corrupted by personal flaws and exterior adversity. Willie Bodega's dream, to which the book's title is a reference, is to improve the lives of the residents of Spanish Harlem. It is a dream he has held since he was a teenager and a member of the Young Lords, a Puerto...