Examples Of Mexican Culture In Esperanza Rising

Alexis Goodall

Ms. Gourd

Pre-AP 10th Grade English

March 30, 2018

RISE TO THE TOP

Jesse Jackson once said, “If you fall behind, run faster. Never give up, never surrender, and rise up against the odds”. Being apart of a certain culture, leads to one acting, being, and looking different. In the novel, Esperanza Rising, Mexican culture is represented, and it genuinely displays how it progresses.

In Esperanza Rising, one sees accurate elements of the Mexican culture through speech, setting, and traditions. Although Esperanza and her family are Mexican, they gravitate their English side. “Cuidate los dedos”, said Papa. “Watch your fingers”. (Ryan page 4). Speaking Spanish and English isn’t just a skill, it’s a gift. The fact that her family

converses in both, shows how well educated they’re. Esperanza and her family live in Mexico. They’re of the Mexican culture, which means that their environment affects who they’re not only as one, but individually as well. Esperanza and her mom soon fled to California, which meant that they had to adapt to a new environment as well. “That is true. Esperanza, do you know that I’m so proud of you? For all that you’re learning”. (Ryan 136). Starting off at a new place can be burdensome, but once one grasps, it gets better. When Esperanza first arrived in California, she faced many hardships, but despite those hardships, she didn’t cease. Instead, she learned. In Mexico, when a Mexican girl turns fifteen, she has to get married, weather she knows that person or not. At the beginning of this novel, Esperanza was preparing for her fifteenth birthday. She knew who she wanted to marry, but in her culture, the choice isn’t hers. “Several years ago, when Esperanza was still a young girl, Mama and Papa had been discussing boys from “good families”. She couldn’t imagine being matched with someone she had never met. So she announced, “I am going to marry Miguel”! (Ryan 17). She didn’t want to marry a stranger. She wanted to marry someone she knew, and had a connection too. She wanted to marry a close friend.
The Mexican culture affects Esperanza Rising by making situations difficult.

“Mama looked at Esperanza with eyes that said, “forgive me.” Then she dropped her head and stared at the ground. I will consider your proposal,” said Mama”. (Ryan 45). Shortly after her dad died, Esperanza’s mother has been asked to marry Tio Luis, (her husbands brother). This not only affects her mother, it affects her as well. One shouldn’t have to go through certain situations. It’s difficult because it may seem like her mother has a choice, but she truly doesn’t. If the culture wasn’t Mexican, aspects would be completely different. “She watched and wondered how she would fit into this world”. (Ryan 101). If it were a different culture, Esperanza wouldn’t have to marry a stranger, and her family wouldn’t have to speed through their problems. If the culture was American for instance, Esperanza wouldn’t have to get married at a young age.In this novel, English is often used. “Please, Mama,” she begged, “You must eat more soup”. (Ryan 170). When they fled to California, they experienced new things. In America, the majority of citizens speaks English. Esperanza and her family are exposed to a completely divergent culture. In Mexico, they’re used to perceiving spanish, but since they’re in America now, they’re perceiving mainy

English.
Esperanza’s archetype is initiate, which means that she’s not fully something. In her case, she’s about to turn fifteen. She’s going to become a woman. She has to come of age. She has to become further mature. “Abuelita handed Esperanza each gift and Esperanza methodically opened them and laid them back on the table”. (Ryan 27). This is the day of her birthday. The day that ultimately makes her a woman. “My Papa would never have wanted us to live in a place like this”. (Ryan 105). This is her prospect to become who she wants to truly be in life. It’s her chance to find out who she is as an individual. She’s so used to getting everything that she desires, but since she’s becoming older, she has to learn that it can’t always be that way.”Hortensia had given Esperanza her baths since she was a baby”. (Ryan 125). Since Esperanza is becoming a woman, she has to commence things on her own.
Esperanza develops throughout the novel. She becomes more understanding and mature. “Esperanza let herself be led through the crowd”. (Ryan 131). When Esperanza first came to America, she despised it. It took her awhile to eventually adapt. Once she did adapt, she let herself become more open to new experiences. If she was back in Mexico, she wouldn’t be qualified to attempt new things. “She helped Hortensia cook dinner in the late afternoons”. (Ryan 179). She’s starting to do more things, and she’s starting to understand that hard work eventually pays off. “Esperanza shook her head. They were hungry, that’s all”. (Ryan 195). She understood that there’s certain people who can’t have the same items as everyone else, so when they got food, she understood why.
At the beginning, Esperanza and her family lived in Mexico.

A fire and a man name Tio Luis caused them to flee to California. Instead of sitting around and being fancy like they used too, they became workers. For the first time in forever, they learned what hard work certainty felt like. “After Mama fell asleep, Esperanza picked up the needlework and began where Abuelita had left off”. (Ryan 60). Esperanza didn’t know what work was, until she accomplished it. She didn’t know that things took time. Coming to America, modified everything for not just her family, but her as well. It made life exciting, new, and special in their eyes. “A week later Esperanza put yet another bundle of asparagus”. (Ryan 216). Before Esperanza came to America, she didn’t even know what asparagus was. She was used to eating tacos and tamales. Being in a different place, allows one to do new things. “Esperanza reached for Miguel’s hand and found it, and even though her mind was soaring to infinite possibilities, his touch held her heart to the earth”. (Ryan 251). At the beginning of this novel, Esperanza was going to marry a complete stranger, but once she moved away, she finally experienced what love felt like. Miguel made her feel different, special, and incredible. There’s no greater feeling than

that.
Jesse Jackson one said, “If you fall behind, run faster. Never give up, never surrender, and rise up against the odds.” Being apart of a certain culture, leads to one acting, being, and looking different. In the novel, Esperanza Rising, Mexican culture is represented, and it genuinely displays how it progresses. Just because one culture is different, it doesn’t mean that another culture is more superior that it. Basically, everyone is different, weather they’re are from a certain place or not.