The Three Wishes by Ricardo E. Alegria "and Juan Bobo: A Folkloric Information System" by Sarai Lastra

 I enjoyed reading one of the reading texts name The Three Wishes By Ricardo E. Alegria since it contained three folktales are were interesting to read, and the moral each one taught was clear and precise. We see how many folktales in the Puerto Rican culture have either Taino,African, or Caucasian. In the first folktale we see how this foolish kid named Juan Bobo commited many mistakes when protecting the animals, while his mother was in church. As a result the author ends in the end saying that that day, Juan received a whipping that he still remembers till today. I believe that the main lesson to be learn in this folktale is that foolishness and disobedience take you to bad consequences. In the second folktale, I noticed how it had more of a religious background to it. We see how the little ant loses her leg due to the snow, and then she asked the snow to please give her the leg back, and then the snow said to ask sun, since sun is stronger than snow, and so did the chain continue untill it reach the highest and most powerful element which was God. I believe that this maybe was written to those that didn't believe or have a strong connection with God, since it shows in the folktale how God is the most powerful out of everything he created. In the third folktale we see how this beautiful woman who was really a ugly witch covered in beautiful skin, She ended up marrying the most bravest and handsome man, without him knowing the truth. One day the husband decides to not take the coffee that putted him to sleep in order to see what his wife did at night, and discovered that she was a witch when removing her skin. As a result, he decided to put some hot pepper and chili, so that when she putted it back, it will start burning her skin. As a result, sunlight came out and she ended up turning into ashes. I believe that the main moral to be learn here is that you never get away with lying, and that one day, sooner or later you will pay for your wrong doings. All these folktales had and still have an important meaning to the Puerto Rican culture and its people.