Esperanza Rising Essay PDF

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Esperanza Rising Essay...

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Paige Nelson Riley Carter Period 4 January 26, 2016 What is the theme if Esperanza Rising and how is it expressed throughout the novel?

Change in Esperanza “Don’t be afraid of change, it’s leading you to a new beginning.”(Unknown) Most people reject change because they are afraid of starting over or starting fresh, leaving their friends or even family members, and adapting to different ways of life. This historical fiction novel Esperanza Rising written by Pam Munoz Ryan expresses the theme of change throughout the story in Esperanza’s life. This story takes place first in Aquascalientes where Esperanza has a wealthy landowner and always believed she was going to wear beautiful dresses and have people serving her. She believed she would have Papa and Abuelita always with her. Yet a sudden tragedy happened, and it forced Esperanza and Mama to flee to California in search of work. Two men that worked for Papa also came along names Alfonso and Miguel. There she had a lack of acceptance, financial difficulties, and hard work. To add to these hardships, Mama got sick which made Esperanza gain a lot more responsibilities, and she had to rise above because Mama’s life was in her hands. The theme of change was significantly expressed throughout the novel when Esperanza fled to California, when she emerged from riches to rags, and when she finally adapted to her new lifestyle.

Mama and Esperanza had to flee to California where they settled in a camp with Mexican farm workers. Leaving Abuelita and Papa behind, they had to start over,

changing from clean to dirty. For example, Miguel states, “There are rumors in town that Luis intends to take over the ranch, one way or another. Now that it seems true, we will probably leave for the United States to work.” (p.36) Clearly, this demonstrates why Esperanza moved to California. She had to do this because Tio Luis planned on taking over their property, a proposal to marry Mama/Ramona, and sending Esperanza to boarding school. Additionally, as they traveled through the Mexican scenery, Esperanza felt the uneasiness of change, “Sadness and anger tangled in Esperanza’s stomach as she thought of all that she was leaving: her friends and her school, her life as it once was, Abuelita. And Papa. She felt as though she was leaving him too.” (p.56) Clearly this quote proved that Esperanza was frustrated that she had to leave her home. This shows change because she was switching her lifestyle from having freedom, to hard work, using hope. On the other hand, she starts to transition from riches to rags and then becomes a hard working young woman.

As a matter of fact, Esperanza began to get use to being around filthy people and then she became exactly that. In the story it conveys, “We cannot travel in this car. It… it is not clean. And the people do not look trustworthy.” (p.67) Amplification on the concrete detail is, Esperanza had to adapt to living in an area where she had to work. She was not used to being dirty or a peasant, so she had to change her way of life. Furthermore, on page 71, Esperanza shows her changing the way of looking at others. “She held the yarn doll up, offering it to the little girl. She ran to Mama smiling, took the doll, and ran back to her own mother’s side.” This concrete detail demonstrated Esperanza learning to share and being friendly with poor people. Consequently, she began to adapt to her new environment.

Alternatively, she began to get better at the skills of being a worker. Above all, Esperanza began to seem like a real campesino towards the end of the book. Having said that, she began to work in the field, raised money, and cared for her mother using hope to help her thrive. On page 119, Esperanza gains skill on sweeping, “Esperanza collected dirt. “See you could do it.” Miguel raised his thick eyebrows and smiled. “Someday, you might just make a very good servant.” This evidence expressed when Miguel taught her how to sweep the platform. Eventually, the author then explained when Esperanza finally was relieved, when Abuelita returned and cheered up Mama. After that, it helped Esperanza to understand to be thankful in the end. She then explained to Isabel, “Do not be afraid to start over.” This quote showed how Esperanza had to change her lifestyle and move to California. It took a while to adapt to these changes, yet, Esperanza knew it was worth the hardships.

As you can see, the theme of change was a clearly stated in the novel. The author Pam Munoz Ryan shows change when Esperanza had to flee to California, when she emerged from riches to rags, and finally adapted to her new lifestyle. “Don’t be afraid to start over” (Unknown)...