Helena Maria Viramontes Under The Feet Of Jesus

The Feet of Jesus Timed Write

In Helena Maria Viramontes’, Under the Feet of Jesus”, a girl named Estrella fails to realize the importance and true meaning of things. Estrella’s character develops through the help of literary elements such as detail, symbolism, and tone.

The tools that are found in Perfecto’s red tool box and the letters on the board are all written in the story with great description and detail. Many may also look over the fact that Estrella is dirty and focus in on the tools. However, the details pertaining to how she’s dirty is important. Estrella doesn't care that she is dirty. She is more focused on understanding and learning things she was never accustomed to. In the excerpt it says, “... asked how come her mama never gave her a bath. Until then it never occurred to Estella that she was dirty.” Details about tools are also important. In the end of the excerpt on line 70 it reads,”she lifted the pry bar in her hand… That is when she began to read.” The details of the tools tie into symbolism and help in the showing that Estrella over time realized that everything has a purpose even if it isn’t evident at first.

The tools symbolize the steps Estrella must take in becoming better in understanding. In the beginning, Estrella describes the tools as “funny shaped objects” and “confusing ad foreign as the alphabet she could not decipher.” Towards the middle, Perfecto Flores tells Estrella,” If that doesn’t work, because your manitas aren’t strong yet, fasten the vise pliers, these, then twist the pliers with your hammer.” This quote shows how Estrella would have to or used many different steps to help in the realization that things that aren’t understood would be over time and are important. Over the course of the excerpt the tools are more understood and their purpose is described. Just like Estrella did over the course of the