El Norte, a 1983 film directed by Gregory Nava, depicts the life of two indigenous teenagers who flee their native country, Guatemala, in search for a better life in America. The reason for fleeing is due to the ethnic and political oppression of the Guatemalan Civil War. The film builds up a strong connection shared between Enrique and Rosa, one of genuine feeling and fierce emotion. This connection is foregrounded by the exaggerated style and is often compared to adulterated relations among Hispanics. Such a differentiation is proposed to underline the strain on the social connection created by the financial aspects of migration. In both Enrique’s and Rosa’s hopes of pursuing the “American Dream”, their fantasies of a better life are both…
In petty crimes written by Gary Soto gives readers a collection of stories about Mexican- American children growing up trying to find their place in a cruel world filled with gangs. These children are from central California, United States Of America. Where the weather is nice and warm with the sun shining bright above them. The protagonist consists of La Guera, and Mario. The antagonist is Laura, José Luis, and Norma.…
As the narrator, Gary Soto recreates a childhood experience in which he steals a pie from the German Market. Although stealing a single pie might seem insignificant, Gary Soto is able to emphasize the guilt possessed as a young six-year-old boy by using numerous rhetorical devices to recreate this unforgettable memory. In the excerpt from A Summer Life, Gary Soto tries to show that humans are prone to sin.…
Food plays an intricate part in any given culture; it is a medium that is used to express love, and to pass down tradition from generation to generation. In Jimmy Santiago Baca’s poem “Green Chile”, Baca explores the value of chile peppers in his family and it’s heritage.…
First of all, the title of the novel makes reference to food, but it also has a deeper meaning. Images of heat and fire permeate the novel as expressions of intense emotion. Heat is necessary during the preparation of many foods. In the science of cooking, heat is a force to be used precisely; the novel 's title phrase "like water for chocolate," refers to the fact that water must be brought to the threshold of boiling and lowered three times before cacao powder can be added to make hot chocolate. However, the many forms of heat involved in the tale cannot be so controlled. Heat is used as a symbol for desire and physical love throughout the narrative. Some example can be found in Gertrudis ' rush to the ranch showers then escape from the entire ranch itself, in Pedro 's lust for Tita, and the death of Pedro after he and Tita passion is finally realized. This heat is used as a source of power and one of destruction. The epitome of this detail in the novel, where death and desire are paired together, occurs when the love between Tita and Pedro is actualized.…
The Author’s story begins in Fresno, California where Gary Soto was born. Gary soto started off doing poetry in High school even though he wasn’t academically motivated when Soto was a child.”He was not academically motivated as a child, but became interested in poetry during his high school years”(poets.org). And soto went to Fresno City College and studied poetry. “He attended Fresno City college and California State University at Fresno while working toward an undergraduate degree, and later studied poetry at the University of California, Irvine, where he earned his MFA in 1976”(poets.org). And after college he wrote a poem and won an award which was published in 1977. “His first collection of poems, The Elements of San Joaquin, won the United States Award…
Do you know how to be happy and powerful ? Laura Esquivel answers it well by represents the answer in her book “ Like Water For Chocolate “. For Tita, who is the main character of the book that everything of the book is around and about her life, that how she struggles about her boyfriend - Pedro marries her sister - Rosaura, worries about life of children of Pedro and Rosaura and John who really loves her. The kitchen she can control of, food like Ox-Tail Soup and Turkey Mole with Almonds and Sesame Seeds that she loves which these three symbols show what it means to be happy and powerful.…
Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. As the narrator tells his story, he refers to the couple as youths and never anything more than that. Carver writes, “They were kids themselves, but they were crazy in love, this eighteen-year-old boy and this seventeen-year-old girl when they married”. Symbolically, Carver means that they were in no means ready to get married due to the fact that they were just kids and not mature enough to make a commitment such as marriage even though they were madly in…
Contrary to his belief or “version” of masculinity holding the key to his dreams, it was his genuine personality and gentle character that attracted his crush Blanca Saldivia. Blanca, a Pentecostal girl who was praised by all those who knew her due to the pureness and beauty she possessed, was captivated by Julio’s non-violent nature. It separated Chino from the rest of the young hooligans like his best friend or “pana” Sapo. His dream of…
A constant image that is brought to the reader’s creative thoughts is colors. The “convertible jalopy painted gold” (Lit 326) when Connie was with Eddie, the “open jalopy, painted a bright gold that caught the sunlight opaquely” (Lit 327) when Arnold Friend was barely arriving, and “the bright green blouse” (Lit 331) that Connie was wearing on that Sunday morning are meaningful details that Oates meant to emphasize. Gold generally means success, triumph,…
‘Oranges are Not the Only Fruit’ is a novel which often uses allegory to create depth and meaning to the novel by blurring the line between fact and fiction. The use of allegory adds to our understanding of ‘Oranges’ as a whole in many different ways.…
Symbolism Eudora Welty uses symbolism throughout the story. When Phoenix sat on the shore of the creek, she envisioned a young boy with a piece of cake for her. As she reached for it, the cake vanished. The marble cake symbolizes the segregation between black and white people and how she wanted equality. The big…
The demise of the fluorescent cane; and the leaves of the olive grove, exposing the promised reality. Thus, the infinite grin embarks to a shore of interminable promises. And the child who beguiled those ostensible crimes which this equity admitted and introduced to his territory. However, their sexual gains inundated the crest of a wall that demarcated…
Once again he makes a claim using simple syntax: “Cesar was … ruled by pulp.” Once again he embellishes with fascinating detail: “Cesar loved everything that ripened in time.” But instead of using a metaphor, Rodriguez gives an anecdote to illustrate Cesar’s quirky, fastidious nature. Having patiently built up sympathy for this character, Rodriguez utilizes the connection to create as large an emotional impact as possible: “If he’s lucky, he’s got a year, the doctor told me. If not, he’s got two.” Although the until the final sentence this paragraph has a fairly upbeat mood, the author uses two techniques to foreshadow the eventual tragic conclusion.…
In art class, Melinda learns how to express her emotions. Her art teacher, Mr. Freeman explains, “Art without emotion is like chocolate cake without sugar. It makes you gag.” He helps her to communicate her emotions through art instead of keeping them inside of herself. The tree is symbolic of Melinda’s personality and life and is one of the main things that helps Melinda…
