In the film, Sugar Cane Alley (1983), directed by Euzhan Palcy, the story was told of how a young boy named Jose grew up on the sugar cane plantation in a small village of Martinique. Also, the film illustrated the Caribbean identities in the colonial Martinique in the 1930s. The main theme of the film was postcolonial Martinican communal system and its distinction to that of the French educational system. In the film, it was depicted how Jose interacted with his friends, getting into trouble with his grandmother and neighbors, helping his grandmother(guardian) with chores while she went out to work in order to provide for both of them, listening and learning informative tales from his spiritual father, starting school to get an education etc …show more content…
During the days, the children would experiment and get themselves into trouble for example in the scene where they caught the neighbor’s garden on fire. Also, when one of them broke M’Man Tine priceless sugar bowl and Jose was punished for it. The extent of the mishap indicate the hardship of the community. M’Man Tine was a very hardworking woman, loved her grandson dearly and worked in the cane fields to provide for both of them considering her old age and aching body. She made it her point of duty that Jose was well fed, oversee that Jose read frequently to keep his reading skills on point, grooming him(preparing him for the outside world) and sending him to school. M’Man Tine was determined that her grandson would have a better life and he would break the cycle of working in the …show more content…
He taught Jose many riddles and stories as an idea to portray the history of Africa; the journey of slavery and the economic affairs between the bekes and blacks in Martinique. He would assess Jose on each visit to see if he recalled the past valuable stories he shared and answered any questions that Jose had. Medouze had a very effective method of telling riddles and stories to Jose as it served as a form of identifying one’s own history rather than welcoming the conclusive story. Medouze imbued a hope of examination and defiance within Jose and served as tribal insight and thought. Medouze reminiscence about his family suffering in Africa and how they were dragged into captivity by white men. He went on to say, “that I will never go back to Africa only when I am dead and buried he will go back there.” Jose wanted to go to Africa with Old Medouze but Medouze dismissed Jose’s statement. Medouze stated, “Man’s fate is death, judgement, heaven and hell; and reinforced that creation had a secret.” Jose gained considerable amount of knowledge and realized he had to go through the French educational system as a breakout from working on the fields. The main lesson that was gathered from Medouze and Jose scene is to know your heritage, never be ashamed of what your parents, grandparents or ancestors sacrificed because it is those unforgettable experiences that
In today's world there is kids in child labor and many people struggling with poverty. It is important that Francisco Jimenez tells a story of migrant farm workers because many people don't understand the struggles the workers go throw.This is relevant to our lives because people who aren't struggling with poverty or are in child labor take most things for granted and those who struggle would be more than grateful for the most slightest
Except using the analogy method to analyze the two cities in Caribbean, Mintz also include people’s real living story to enhance his research. For example, Worker in the Cane, a story of a Puerto Rican sugar can worker, Don Taso, his family and the village he lived. “Don Taso portrays his harsh childhood, his courtship and early marriage, his grim struggle to provide for his family” (Mintz 1974: 1). Although Worker in the Cane is not Mintz’s most famous book, it provided people a direct impression of ethnographic contact, and the detailed description and vivid storytelling of a human’s life explain the reason this book continuing appeal young anthologists.
Doña Guadalupe is a woman of great strength and power, power and strength which she draws from her devout faith and her deep and loving compassion for her family, and power and strength which is passed down to her children. “‘Well, then, come in,’ she said, deciding that she could be handle this innocent-girl-stealing coyote inside. On going into the long tent, Salvador felt like he’d entered the web of a spider, the old woman was eyeing him so deliberately” (360). Doña Guadalupe is a very protective woman, which is extremely speculative when it comes to her children, this is especially true when it comes to boys, because she has not gone this far only for all of her hard work to be ruined by a no good boy. This shows how protective she is, she loves her family, and especially her kids so much that they themselves must pass her test before being able to pass on to her children. “The newborns were moving, squirming, reaching out for life. It was truly a sign from God” (58). Doña Guadalupe is also a very devout and faithful person. She sees God in everything and in everyone and by that fact, what she sees and who she sees is true, and she tries to be a model of clairvoyance for the family. “Doña Guadalupe put the baby’s little feet in a bowel of warm water, and the child clinging to his mother. He never cried, listening to her heartbeat, the same music that he’d heard from inside the womb” (57). Finally, Doña Guadalupe is very passionate which allows for a great model upon which her children follow. This further shows how she is clearly th...
The Carrillo Adobe is in a dire situation. It has not only fallen into disrepair from the many years of weather and use by so many individuals, but by visitors and citizens have been less that kind and considerate of its age and the prominence that it deserves. After Carrillo’s death her house was given to three of her daughters, Marta, Juana, and Felicidad. Then her belongings were distributed between all of her children. In the first decade after her death her different children each occupied the house at different times. One of her daughters, Juana and her husband ran the home as a tavern. They then converted the adobe into the first post office in the town of Santa Rosa. After her daughters no longer had a need for the adobe it was turned into a trading post where numerous individuals...
Enrique’s Journey is a book that I would never read for fun. It is completely different from most of the books I have read, and intrigued me because the story was about a boy. Most of the books I have read in school are about a girl who goes through many hardships, and difficulties but I felt I could relate more to this one because it is about a boy who struggles. While I may not have been left thousands of miles away by mother so she could send money back, it was great to see what life was like on the other side. In this paper I will be talking about the micro and macro cultures of Enrique’s town Tegucigalpa. The situation and context of the characters decision making and how they adapted.
He has endured and overcame many fears and struggles, but during this section, we truly acquire an insight of what the little boy is actually like – his thoughts, his opinions, his personality. Contrary to his surroundings, the little boy is vibrant and almost the only lively thing around. I love him! He is awfully appalled by the “bad guys” and shockingly sympathetic toward dead people. For example, when the father raided a house and found food, the little boy suggested that they should thank them because even though they’re dead or gone, without them, the little boy and father would starve. My heart goes out to him because he is enduring things little boys should never go through, even if this novel is just a fictional
The lesson in “Los tres hermanos (The Three Brothers)” involves understanding that the characters involved failed to reflect on the needs of the thirsty, hungry and poor, the lonely, as well as the elderly and are ultimately fairly served by
José, the protagonist, is a young man of African descent living in Black Shack Alley with his grandmother, M’Man Tine. The people who work harvesting sugar cane are the close descendants of only recently freed slaves – they live in conditions of poverty similar to that of slavery due to the wealthy, ruling white class. Catholic imagery is found throughout the film – notably, M’Man Tine keeps a portrait of Jesus Christ in her shack in Black Shack Alley, and later, above her bed. This portrait serves as a visual cue to the reach of French colonialism and an iteration of French power – the idols of white religion hang in the houses of black oppressed peoples. Perhaps Jesus, to M’Man Tine, represents the notion of life after death and a means of escaping the physical and psychological toil of harvesting cane, much in the same way the converts in Things Fell Apart looked for solace in
When she was washing the pot it slipped out of her hands and the pot fell into the heavy wash. The pot was her grandmother it was something special to her that had just broke. She started thinking about the pot that her grandmother and mother both use to stir the beans. Her husband Jose began to complain about pain in his face when two purple bulbs kept growing and growing in fact which they were plague that had spread around. Tomasita lost everything her friends build her a two room house out of scrap next to the river.
This story makes the reader wonder, why must parents do this to their children, what kinds of motifs do they have for essentially ruining their child’s life. I believe
The protagonist both struggled in their childhood. In addition, both protagonists grew up in families with parents, who were not keen about their children’s life, for instance, Sonia’s parents used to fight all the time, while Martinez parents were uncaring and abusive. Sonia’s relationship with her mother was not that good and this applies to Martinez too. Both protagonists came in terms with their upbringing and had to work hard to change their life situations. In both stories, the theme of poverty is evident in both the
Allos was a young boy from a little province of Binalonan located on the central part of the island of Luzon in the Philippines. He lived with his dad, who farms on their own land, which is the primary source of their living. His mom, living in the town, selling goods in the market. They were among the peasants who worked very hard for the rich landlords just to feed their family. When his brother Leon came back form a war in Europe, he met a girl from another town who he liked. They got engaged and married. There was a tradition during those days that if the girl wasn’t a virgin, the man would have to return her to their village. And when the people found out that the girl deceived Leon, they tied them on a tree and started beating them. Allos’ dad stopped them and when it was over, Leon left the town with his bride and started a new life. Amado, the youngest of his four brothers, who was attending grade school in town living with his mother and their baby sister. His father brought him to the village to help them on their farming. His other brother, Luciano was on camp serving the United States. They all worked so hard for his brother Macario, who was attending high school at the province capital. They needed money for Macario’s education so his father sold a hectare of their four-hectare land. When they needed more, they sold more land. They gave up almost everything they owned just to make their son Macario go to school. One day when his father and his brother Amado were farming, Amado started beating up the carabao. His father stopped him and Amado told his father that he couldn’t live like this anymore. So he ran away from home, leaving Allos as his father’s only helper on the farm. When his brother Macario went home to visit, Allos was speechless. He’s not used to see an educated man. He dressed formal, talked and acted like a real gentleman. When they all gathered on house, Macario said that he needed more money to finish three more months of school. But the money wasn’t enough for three months. So their father decided that they will sell the remaining hectare of their land telling his son not to worry at all.
Carlos wants to be a man,but Mama tells him “Not Yet”.Carlos has to be responsible, respectful, and most important Carlos has to helpful, so Carlos can be a man and protect his village.Carlos is trying to protect his village from the army.Mama tells Carlos to go to his Abuela’s house,during his journey,Carlos has to make decisions so he can defeat the government/army.
Jose recalls his first cooking experience as being an eager moment: “By the time I was eleven or twelve, I was old enough and eager enough to start helping my father with his Sunday meals” (Jose 14), in which he assisted his father gathering up the materials needed. At the same time Jose was always anxious to do more, by the time he was fourteen he was able to set the fire like an expert. The narrator mentions various lessons learned from his father such as, s...
The children couldn’t accept what they thought was so horrible. There was a lot of ignorance and carelessness portrayed throughout this short story. The theme of ungratefulness was revealed in this story; The author depicted how disrespecting someone can inturn feed you with information you may wish you never knew and how someone can do one wrong thing and it immediately erases all the good things a person did throughout their