To fully understand a work, it is not enough to read it. You have to read it, analyze it, question it, and even then question what you are questioning. In Richard Rodriguez's Wish Fulfillment we are introduced to a young Richard Rodriguez and follow him from the beginning of his education until he becomes an adult and finally achieves his goals. Referring to the way he reads for most of his education, it can be said that he reads to the rhythm, while reading a large volume of books, the quality of his reading is lacking. Richard Rodriguez himself claims to be an “imitative and unoriginal student” (Rodriguez 516). He takes what he reads and follows it; there is no analysis or individual thought. Unlike his brother or sister, he feels the need to to prove himself. Richard Rodriguez shows a strong desire to be different. To be special and to have esteem like the teachers and professors he venerates, but at what cost does he begin to distance himself from a very young age? from his family.But while he does so intentionally he seems ashamed of his desire for knowledge. Richard Rodriguez talks about reading in a closet and neglecting his family obligations for reading an addiction. Something he aspires to, and feels that no one understands his thirst and thirst for reverence. The use of The Uses of Literacy by Richard Hoggart in this story is very inspiring. As we are presented with the image of a young Richard Rodriguez and his struggle to deal with his education and family life. We are also presented with Hoggart's image of the “scholarship boy,” the student who has… half of the paper… ed. He dares not make a passionate statement (Rodriguez 531). It seems that he was so caught up in achieving the level of esteem that his teachers have, that he missed what makes great academic minds truly great. Therefore, we can conclude that Richard Rodriguez reads intelligently. It seems like he's so caught up in trying to put up the facade of being educated and intelligent. Forget that intelligence is not just the measure of how many facts you can cite, nor how many books you have read. However, true intelligence is having your own thoughts that can be supported and tested, not simply repeating the thoughts of others that they have already formulated themselves. Works Cited Rodriguez, Richard. "The fulfillment of the wish." Petrosky, Anthony and David Bartholomae. Ways to read an anthology for writers. Boston; New York: Bedford/St. Martin, 2010. 516-532.