Summary Of The Little Burnt Victims

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Parents usually have dreams for their children so that they grow up living a good life. In the story “The Little Burnt Victims,” the father wishes for at least one of his children to grow up to be successful boxers so that they can finally feel free from any money problems. All three of the kids love to box, so the father puts alcohol on their chests, just like they see in the movies. At this time, the father and mother both work in the fields, and their family lives in a shack. The mother states, ""But can't you see that we barely have enough room to stand up in this chicken shack and there you are running around like we had so much space"" (Rivera 112). This implies that field workers don't make much money. Having to juggle three kids, working …show more content…

Many Chicano migrant workers have economic issues due to being paid so little in the field. The story states, ""Maybe one of them will turn out good with the glove, and then we'll be set, Vieja"" (Rivera 113). This means that it's pretty normal for parents in low-income homes to dream of their children pursuing bigger and better jobs, just to make more money to take care of any financial problems. Later on in the story, the parents head to work in the fields but cannot take their children with them because it's against the boss' orders. They then noticed smoke coming from around their house. They rushed back home, only to see their house covered in flames. They also saw that only one of the three children survived. The story states, ""But then I think he rubbed some alcohol on their chests and who knows what other stuff on their little bodies like they had seen done in the movie"" (Rivera 113–114). The children just wanted to have a little fun, but in doing so, they lost everything. Having lost everything so quickly is a horrible experience. Working so hard to get paid so little and then seeing all of the hard work gone in a flash. Rivera wants to show readers the hardships Chicano families have to face

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