“El Tonto Del Barrio”
If asked, “what is the most important thing a person needs?” one of the most prevalent answer would be money. However, do people think about the negative influence money has on them. In the short story “El Tonto Del Barrio,” the author, José Armas uses characterization, irony, and symbolism to show how money makes people greedy for more.
José Armas use characterization to show how people can change. “Characterization is the development of characters in a story,” (Madden 67). In the story, Armas portrays Romero as the protagonist, who shows changes in his character due to the influence of money. At first the writer describes Romero as being the most helpful person in his neighborhood who is liked by everyone. For example, in the story Armas writes about the “ritual” that Romero follows every day, “After breakfast he would get his broom…sweeping the sidewalks for all the businesses,” (Armas 896). Moreover, Armas mentions that whenever Romero becomes ill, someone will always go to his house to visit him. At this point a reader may wonder how a kind hearted man like Romero could show such a change in his character. The readers may find Seferino responsible for this situation. Although, Seferino tries to help Romero by offering him money, the scenario of the story changes that no one expects.
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The irony in the story, used by the writer, is not something that the readers would expect.
“Irony of situation results from the contrast between what is expected and what actually happens,” (Madden 68). As thought Romero does not behave the way Seferino thought. For instance, Romero says to Seferino “I want a raise” (Armas 899). Moreover, when Seferino refuses to Romero’s demand, he immediately quit his job and stops to sweep the sidewalks. This outrageous behavior of Romero is unacceptable as he was doing his job before without getting any payment. Romero was a different man, before the idea of capitalism came to Seferinos
mind. Seferino is used as a symbolism to show that he brought capitalism to the neighborhood. Symbolism occurs when one item represents another, “…giving it an entirely different meaning that is much deeper and more significant” (“Symbolism”).Furthermore the name Seferino means “the west wind” (“Seferino”); this represents capitalism as it started in the western world. Capitalism is “an economic system in which…exchange of wealth is made” (Capitalism”). As capitalism was introduced in the eighteen hundreds “consumerism” increased so did “materialism” which means “the mentality for the need for excess” ("Capitalism's Effect on Society: Consumerism"). In the story it states that “Romero had asked for credit at the grocery store” (Armas 899). As Romero began to earn money his demand increases so he expects to more without even thinking how this would affect him and his neighbors. Although money can be the most important thing a person can have, the truth is that it can also blind the same person from seeing the precious thing that he has, which is his dignity. In the story Romero is more cheerful before earning money. After he started to get an income he became greedy for more money and lost his true self. This proves what Benjamin Franklin said, “Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants” ("Benjamin Franklin Quote.")
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Question #1: In chapter one, does Zinn portray Bartolome de las Casas as an adversary of Indians?
In Junot Diaz’s essay “The Money” he explains where his family stands economically. Stating that his father was regularly being fired from his forklifting jobs and his mother 's only job was to care for him and his four siblings. With the money brought home by his father, his mom would save some. Her reason was to raise enough to send to her parents back in the Dominican Republic. When his family went on a vacation, they came back to an unpleasant surprise; their house had been broke into. Eventually Diaz was able to get back their money and belongings. Diaz returned the money to his mother although she didn’t thank him for it, this disappointed him. Like Diaz I have also encountered a similar situation where I was disappointed. When I was in second grade, my life life took a completely different turn. My dad took an unexpected trip to Guatemala, on his return, the outcome was not what I expected.
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