Story Analysis: It That It Hurts By Tomas Rivera

Tomas Rivera is a has created a story which challenges us with an obstacle, what hurts? “Its that it Hurts” Is about a nameless Mexican boy that faces many troubles throughout his everyday life. Being embarrassed, abused and discriminated against at school and submerged in the expectations his parents have for him. Because of a unwanted fight he now faces expulsion, and feels “that it hurts”. This first person story is about a young man dueling racism, bullying,and parent pressure, and has been emotionally and physically harmed by it. Racism is something that everyone has seen or faced, and it can hurt. The nameless Mexican boy has been confronted with discrimination by his teachers and peers. The students made cruel and racist comments “I don’t like Mexicans because they steal” or they use racial slurs like “Mex”. Being isolated because of something you can’t of something you can’t control is mournful and infuriating. Adults also made racist remarks about
The disappointment he will inflict on his parents if he gets expelled tortures him. The boy has become delusional saying, “Sure, they did! Maybe not. Yeah they did!” Multiple times in the story. He really wants to impress his parents and doesn't want to embarrass them. They dreamed of him becoming a telephone operator and he feels that he let them down.Line 185 to 188 “what hurts me the most” He begins “is that now I won’t be able to be a telephone operator like dad wants me to be.” Letting his parents down upsets him a lot and as you can tell it hurts him the most.
“It’s That It Hurts” is about a boy that is hurting on the inside and out. All the problems he faces stack on top of each to create a big ball of stress, anxiety and plain. Racism, bullying and pressure are all factors that made the boy hurt. Sadly there are still many questions to ask, who is the boy? Did he get really get expelled? And many many