The Devil's Highway Quade

In both Urrea’s The Devil’s Highway and Quade’s Canute Commands the Tide, we see different portrayals of the lower class. Urrea writes about the real-life incident of the deaths of 14 immigrants in the Arizona desert. these immigrants fled from Mexico to the U.S., pursuing a better life but were abandoned by “their Coyotes”. It was a normal practice for the Coyotes to “leave the humans to die for convenience’ sake” (Urrea 201). They would leave saying they would fetch food and water, seek help, etc. but never return. Urrea details the aftermath of these deaths, talking about Mexican officials to deal with the incident and trials prosecuting the survivors and the smugglers. Urrea states that the “big beasts and the little predators continue to feed on the poor and innocent” (Urrea 204).

Class definitely plays a big part in this story.

These immigrants were taken advantage of and only hoped for a better life elsewhere. On the other hand, Quade’s story focuses on two people from different classes. Margaret moves to Santa Fe for a new beginning and meets Carmen, who she hires to be her housekeeper. Margaret has some preconceived notions about Carmen. For example, she sees the scar, a “pink ragged line across [her] brown throat” and immediately thinks a boyfriend or husband may have done it to her (Quade 225). She gives some of her belongings to Carmen, thinking it was “probably nicer than the things Carmen bought for herself” (Quade 234). Even though the two become close friends, their different class standings is a barrier between them. Later, when Ruben threatens them, Margaret just wants him out and offers he “takes whatever he wants” (Quade 250). She just wants all of them out of her perfect home. Margaret does not understand the “terror and fury and love” between Carmen, Ruben and August and Carmen sees how apathetic she is (Quade

251).
The power relations in both stories also relate to the classes and social standing. In The Devil’s Highway, it is clear the Coyotes have more authority than the lower class Mexican immigrants. They have the advantage over the poor immigrants who trust them to lead them over the border. The Yuma 14 trusted them and believed they would be back with more supplies and help. The Coyotes have more authority and have more power over the lower class immigrants. However, in Canute, Carmen has more authority even though Margaret is in a higher class. Margaret’s life revolves around Carmen and her life, as seen when she does not come to work one day. She depends on Carmen’s presence and without her, her life is empty. She previously felt lonely when her daughter moved away from her. Margaret uses Carmen to fill up her life, acting like she needs her help. She thinks she is doing Carmen a huge favor but does not realize who Carmen is beyond that. She treats Ruben like a threat to her home and to her life but does not see that he needs help. When Carmen realizes Margaret does not value her family, she turns on her. This is why I think Carmen has more authority and an advantage over Margaret by the end of the story.