The Presence of Marxist Criticism in the Ironic Story

“ Love in LA” is an ironic short story written by Dagoberto Gilb in 1993. Gibbs uses objective third person to describe the Los Angeles-based story which is set in the late 1980s with a realistic view on a simple mans life. Jake is seen as a young underprivileged man who takes his current situation lightly. When accidentally clashing with another vehicle, he is soon facing to face a young woman named Mariana, who challenges his loneliness and ego. In the overall story, the themes of deception and materialism as a downfall take play with the use of situational irony.

The use of third-person helps the author give the reader a point of view from Jake’s life. The character of Jake is used to exemplify and represent the pride one takes on when served with a limited amount of things.BJJ

Gilbs’ use of straightforward and fictional writing helps the reader quickly understand the reasoning behind Jake’s personality. Since his work has been based mostly around the middle class and Mexican-American people, one can suggest that Jake is one of these two.

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Jake represents the nonprivileged middle class while he sits close to the Hollywood traffic. In addition to this, Jake’s financial stability and current place in life can suggest that there is Marxist criticism throughout the short story. Marxist criticism is exemplified when Mariana informs Jake that her father bought her the car and that she “...lives at home...” (pg 2). The reader easily gets the understanding that Jake is taken back by this as he might have not had his parent's support.

In addition to this, Jake seems very materialistic when thinking about the “...crushed velvet interior with electric controls...defroster for the winter, exotic colognes, plush, dark nightclubs, mai tais, and daiquiris, necklaced ladies in satin gowns, misty, and sexy like in a tequila ad…” (pg.1). Showing his materialistic side, it also shows the level of society that he is in. Most working people would not strive to achieve Jake’s ideology of a perfect moment, but rather a stable one. Without having anything important to focus on, Jakes's full attention goes straight to the things that would make his life ‘seem’ full.

In analyzing “Love in LA”, ideas of feminist criticism occurs. In the 80’s, the ideology of equality between the genders was not so tight as it is today. Back then, relationships between the genders were more categorized, as the man would be the flirt, the upper hand, and the woman would be the gentle one who would be admired. This comes to play when Jake meets Mariana when exchanging information. Jake

Furthermore, deception is shown within Mariana’s and Jake’s conversation. He lies to her about his occupation, saying that he is a musician. The flirtatious words Jake exchanges give the reader the understanding that Jake lies to himself as well as the people around him. He blinds himself with an optimistic point of view of not having a steady lifestyle and being a well put together man in front of women. He is seen admiring the fact that he does not have to be stuck on the onramp in the summer traffic. He takes pride in the fact that he doesn't have an occupation that would lead him to be stuck in summer traffic. Although he admires this small fact, he is also seen daydreaming and fantasizing about all the things he would actually have if he got a decent job. Jake’s thoughts and actions depict and represent the meaning of the story. For example, the green light is no ordinary object. In the short story, the green light symbolizes moving forward and Jakes's feelings, although shown in the story, it looks like there is no moving forward in Jake.