Imagery And Symbolism In Nick Vaca's Martin

In his story, "Martin", Nick Vaca, explains how an experience with the new kid on the block left a lasting impression on him. Vaca recounts this memory to convey how his initial perceptions of the new kid caused him and his playmates to act harshly and untowards. Through the use of imagery and symbolism, Vaca details how this experience caused him to realize that he should never judge someone based on their appearance. The tale begins when Vaca and his playmates first meet Martin and are instantly envious of him. This jealousy stems from Martin's appearance and the fact that "right in the middle of this thin and frail body was an enormous belly, as huge as the basketball with which we played," and to the boys "a large belly meant that a person ate well — too

Thus the imagery of those with big bellies incites anger within them because to them it symbolizes having more than enough, something they lack. Therefore, once an opportunity to attack Martin presents itself, the boys happily take advantage of it. A battle ensues and they manage to fool Martin and he's "met [by] a hail of clods. One hit him on the temple... one sunk deeply into his belly, and ... another bit his back," and despite their victory the guilty feelings of the narrator are apparent in his attempt to convince himself that "He deserved it. Yes, of course, but not really." This guilt leads Vaca to return to the scene of the crime where he notices "a small, gray, cast iron cap pistol with a broken trigger," and