Esperanza Rising

The Literary Analysis on Esperanza Rising

In this passage I am going to incorporate facts and details suggested to write my literary analysis on “Esperanza Rising”. I have put the topics and paragraphs from each individual order. 

  

Brief Plot Summary 

Esperanza was with her papa. Her papa told her that if you can listen and stay still very quietly you can hear the Earth beating and thumping very slowly. When Esperanza felt it she was amazed. That was one of the last times she ever got to see papa. The following days papa was assassinated by bandits. Luckily Miguel and Alfonso got the body. The bandits took all that he had and when mama heard the news she fainted. Soon Tio Marco and Tio Luis burned Esperanza’s ranch to crisps and dust. Mama agreed to Tio Luis that she would think about marrying him since it was required. Esperanza was shocked by mama’s agreement but mama had a plan. Everyone gathered around that night and soon enough mama had to make a sacrifice and go to America. Esperanza thought to take something so she would always remember the Ranch and took the doll that papa had given to her. Abuelita couldn’t come since she had had a broken ankle from the fire and couldn’t walk. When they got to Zacatecas the train was there. They took the train and when they got to America they gave their fake passports to get in. They were desperate. There they worked in camp for foreigners and raised money. After that Abuelita (grandmother) came because Miguel got her. Esperanza was angry and happy at Miguel. Miguel stole all her money but at least used it for a great cause.

Analysis on Two Main Characters

Esperanza:

Esperanza is a sweet loving girl in the story who is recognized as the daughter of her mama. She is very happy at first in the story but as it goes on she becomes dreary and then strong willed. By the end of the whole story she is a changed woman. She gets motivation from mama because mama gets a disease called valley fever from the dust storm that hit the camp. Esperanza is determined to raise enough money to get her Abuelita back and she is paying all the bills for mama. So Esperanza is brave, hardworking, and thoughtful.

Abuelita:

Abuelita (grandmother) is a very kind woman. She is very old though and is separated from everyone else for a very long time. She is wise though and tells the answers to some of the big questions we readers have. Abuelita is brought back together with her family by a servant named Miguel. Miguel steals Esperanza’s money to bring Abuelita to America. Esperanza not knowing gets into a fit about this. When Miguel comes back with Abuelita everyone is overjoyed. Abuelita is a wise, and compassionate soul.

One Conflict in Story

One conflict in the story was when Esperanza’s house was destroyed in a fire. Abuelita told everyone she knew it was Tio Luis who caused the disaster to happen. Soon everyone was running out of the house and Tio Luis and Tio Marco came. Tio Luis told mama if she would consider the proposal. When mama reluctantly said yes. Tio Luis jumped for joy. He told that when they marry Esperanza would need to learn better manners and that she would live in a much better house then El Rancho De Las Rosas. Abuelita told mama and everyone else that the only reason he wants to marry was so he would get more power in his run for governor. 

One Overall Theme Statement

One overall theme statement in “Esperanza Rising” is to always work hard and never give up. It may also represent integrity since Esperanza was paying the bills and keeping the spare money she had to bring Abuelita to America. Mama didn’t know of this at first so it shows integrity and perseverance at one point. It shows perseverance in many ways.

Setting and Role

The setting of the story is taken place in many scenes. One setting is El Rancho De Las Rosas. El Rancho De Las Rosas’s role in the story is the house of Esperanza and her mama and papa and Abuelita. El Rancho De Las Rosas was burned to crisps by Tio Luis and Tio Marco. The story would definitely change if this setting wasn’t included in the passage because it is the home of some of the main characters. I mean where would they live.

Connection to the History

The connection to history that Esperanza Rising takes place in is the Great Depression. The Great Depression was the longest economic turndown in the history of America. Frank D. Roosevelt (President at the time) was taking serious changes at the time. “ President Franklin D. Roosevelt helped lessen the worst effects of the Great Depression in the 1930’s. The economy would not fully turn around until after 1939. When World War II kicked American industry into high gear”. “The Great Depression began soon after the stock market crash in 1929, which sent wall street into a panic and wiped out millions of investors.”

In Conclusion this is my literary Analysis on Esperanza Rising.  

Cited from “HISTORY” THE GREAT DEPRESSION or HISTORY.COM