They’ve Got They’ve Got Something to LoseSomething to Lose

FeracoFeraco

Search for Human PotentialSearch for Human Potential

4 May 20114 May 2011

Getting StartedGetting Started

““In a book that's so small, so readable, and In a book that's so small, so readable, and so poetic, there are…many, many very so poetic, there are…many, many very deep, philosophical, theological issues. deep, philosophical, theological issues. And it's fun to deal with them.” And it's fun to deal with them.”

Nicolás KanellosNicolás Kanellos• Appreciating the coralAppreciating the coral• Avoids easy manipulationAvoids easy manipulation• Genuine experience, genuine needGenuine experience, genuine need• Inspiration for the Star (along with Inspiration for the Star (along with

SiddharthaSiddhartha))

A Word from the TranslatorA Word from the Translator

There's a lot of beautiful poetry in Tomás There's a lot of beautiful poetry in Tomás Rivera's novel, you'll find. You know, even Rivera's novel, you'll find. You know, even though it's a very harsh experience that though it's a very harsh experience that the book conveys -- you know, pain, the book conveys -- you know, pain, suffering, the sun bearing down on the suffering, the sun bearing down on the people as they're working -- there are people as they're working -- there are moments that are refreshing, and moments that are refreshing, and inspiring, like little fleeting swirls of inspiring, like little fleeting swirls of beauty. Like, for example, when [the beauty. Like, for example, when [the child] goes out into the silvery night. It is child] goes out into the silvery night. It is magical.magical.

-Evangelina Vigil-Piñón-Evangelina Vigil-Piñón

More Kanellos…More Kanellos…

From a literary point of view ... this is a very, From a literary point of view ... this is a very, very sophisticated book. Not only is it poetic, very sophisticated book. Not only is it poetic, not only is the language poetic, but also the not only is the language poetic, but also the devices of plot construction and perspective devices of plot construction and perspective are very, very highly literary and belong to the are very, very highly literary and belong to the new novel. They belong to what people have new novel. They belong to what people have assumed is the Latin American boom, where assumed is the Latin American boom, where the reader is expected to construct the the reader is expected to construct the narrative. So there are all kinds of clues in the narrative. So there are all kinds of clues in the book that lead the reader to piece together book that lead the reader to piece together who is speaking at what time, what it means, who is speaking at what time, what it means, what are the relationships of the characters, so what are the relationships of the characters, so this becomes somewhat of an artistic literary this becomes somewhat of an artistic literary puzzle.puzzle.

……and More…and More…• “ “Many people have called this the Chicano Many people have called this the Chicano

Grapes of Wrath. And the same kinds of historical Grapes of Wrath. And the same kinds of historical background that tell us about the Dust Bowl, and background that tell us about the Dust Bowl, and what John Steinbeck documented through The what John Steinbeck documented through The Grapes of Wrath is here. We have that Grapes of Wrath is here. We have that background. And, in fact, not only do we have background. And, in fact, not only do we have that background historically, we have it today. that background historically, we have it today. Because all of these issues, and all of these Because all of these issues, and all of these trends in immigration, and farm labor, and trends in immigration, and farm labor, and unionizing labor, and poor schooling for migrant unionizing labor, and poor schooling for migrant workers -- and for poor kids -- still exist in this workers -- and for poor kids -- still exist in this country.”country.”

• Hence the Hence the Soon We’ll Be Living in the Future Soon We’ll Be Living in the Future assignments: our old problems linger because assignments: our old problems linger because they require new solutionsthey require new solutions

……and Moreand More

……And the Earth Did Not Devour HimAnd the Earth Did Not Devour Him is a is a great book to teach in high school great book to teach in high school especially, because at this point in the life especially, because at this point in the life of a young person, they're trying to find of a young person, they're trying to find out who they are. There are all kinds of out who they are. There are all kinds of pressures, and emotions, and growing pressures, and emotions, and growing pains that we try to make sense of -- the pains that we try to make sense of -- the protagonist has to piece together his protagonist has to piece together his identity from bits and pieces of overheard identity from bits and pieces of overheard dialogue, from personal experiences, from dialogue, from personal experiences, from imaginings, from stories that other people imaginings, from stories that other people tell. It's really like what happens in the tell. It's really like what happens in the real world…you never get the full story.real world…you never get the full story.

What’s the Story?What’s the Story?

• ““Layered stories and sketches Layered stories and sketches portray a Mexican-American migrant portray a Mexican-American migrant community.”community.”

• Ramon Saldivar: “It’s a major Ramon Saldivar: “It’s a major document of Chicano social and document of Chicano social and literary history.”literary history.”

• Twenty-seven stories, including the Twenty-seven stories, including the two framing stories (“The Lost Year” two framing stories (“The Lost Year” and “Under the House”)and “Under the House”)

BackgroundBackground• The term “Chicano” – as in “Chicano The term “Chicano” – as in “Chicano

literature” – refers to Americans of literature” – refers to Americans of Mexican descentMexican descent

• ““Many Mexicans and Chicanos provide Many Mexicans and Chicanos provide labor for farmers throughout the United labor for farmers throughout the United States, particularly in the West and States, particularly in the West and Midwest. The work is seasonal, Midwest. The work is seasonal, exhausting, and pays very low wages…exhausting, and pays very low wages…Many migrant workers still toil under Many migrant workers still toil under oppressive conditions similar to those oppressive conditions similar to those experienced by the [characters] in experienced by the [characters] in Rivera's novel.”Rivera's novel.”

-paraphrased from Annenberg-paraphrased from Annenberg• Rivera was born in Crystal City, TX; his Rivera was born in Crystal City, TX; his

parents were migrant workersparents were migrant workers

Bracero ProgramBracero Program• Took place in 1942 – shortly before the Took place in 1942 – shortly before the

action in Rivera’s novel begins, and long action in Rivera’s novel begins, and long before the current battles over before the current battles over immigration erupted on the national scaleimmigration erupted on the national scale

• The U.S. and Mexican governments The U.S. and Mexican governments instituted a set of labor laws intended to instituted a set of labor laws intended to provide fair treatment for Mexican provide fair treatment for Mexican nationals recruited to work in the U.S.nationals recruited to work in the U.S.– These laborers were, in part, taking the place These laborers were, in part, taking the place

of U.S. workers lost to World Wars I and II of U.S. workers lost to World Wars I and II – The program didn’t protect the workers fully, The program didn’t protect the workers fully,

and they were often exploited.and they were often exploited. - paraphrased from - paraphrased from

AnnenbergAnnenberg

More BackgroundMore Background

• ……And the Earth Did Not Devour HimAnd the Earth Did Not Devour Him is is a response to certain realities of a response to certain realities of Chicano and migrant life – and the Chicano and migrant life – and the result of them as wellresult of them as well

• Rivera focuses particularly closely on Rivera focuses particularly closely on the lives of Chicanos serving as the lives of Chicanos serving as migrant agricultural workers during migrant agricultural workers during World War II and up through the 1960sWorld War II and up through the 1960s

• It was one of only a few novels in print It was one of only a few novels in print about Chicanos in this country at the about Chicanos in this country at the time (late ‘60s/early ’70s)time (late ‘60s/early ’70s)

KanellosKanellos

Tomás Rivera had been writing before the official Tomás Rivera had been writing before the official Chicano movement got underway (which Chicano movement got underway (which historians and scholars place around 1965), when historians and scholars place around 1965), when Cesar Chavez organized farm workers in Cesar Chavez organized farm workers in California, and tried to unionize them. Along with California, and tried to unionize them. Along with that unionizing came the birth of the that unionizing came the birth of the El Teatro El Teatro CampesinoCampesino, with Luis Valdez, who very much , with Luis Valdez, who very much developed a farm worker theater and took it developed a farm worker theater and took it around the country and popularized this new kind around the country and popularized this new kind of literature that used the language of the of literature that used the language of the people. It also had a political message along with people. It also had a political message along with the civil rights movement and protests against the civil rights movement and protests against Vietnam.Vietnam.

Still More!Still More!• Because Rivera didn’t know much (if Because Rivera didn’t know much (if

anything) about a larger Chicano literary anything) about a larger Chicano literary movement, he was basically writing in a movement, he was basically writing in a vacuum – without a novelistic or fictional vacuum – without a novelistic or fictional tradition to orient himselftradition to orient himself– While he drew on the traditions Kanellos just While he drew on the traditions Kanellos just

mentioned, it’s important to remember that mentioned, it’s important to remember that Rivera is breaking new ground hereRivera is breaking new ground here

• The result is something largely new – and The result is something largely new – and something incredibly influentialsomething incredibly influential

• Rivera helped bring his narrative style Rivera helped bring his narrative style into the mainstream with …into the mainstream with …And the Earth And the Earth Did Not Devour HimDid Not Devour Him

El MovimientoEl Movimiento

• As Rivera wrote As Rivera wrote …And the Earth Did Not …And the Earth Did Not Devour HimDevour Him (1967–1968), other Chicano (1967–1968), other Chicano writers and artists were finding writers and artists were finding expression for their ideas and opinions expression for their ideas and opinions

• Production of art and literature exploded Production of art and literature exploded into a full-fledged movement (which, one into a full-fledged movement (which, one could argue, means that Rivera’s book could argue, means that Rivera’s book accomplished its task)accomplished its task)

• The Chicano renaissance – The Chicano renaissance – El MovimientoEl Movimiento – – questioned accepted truths and focused questioned accepted truths and focused on civil rights, labor struggles, and the on civil rights, labor struggles, and the Vietnam WarVietnam War

Promoting a New TraditionPromoting a New Tradition

• Chicano poets were among the first to Chicano poets were among the first to gain prominence in the movement gain prominence in the movement because the verse nature of their work because the verse nature of their work allowed them to easily recite their writing allowed them to easily recite their writing before groups of students and workers before groups of students and workers (and they wrote bilingually in order to (and they wrote bilingually in order to reach a wide audience)reach a wide audience)

• Rivera promoted Chicano authors and Rivera promoted Chicano authors and contributed to the development of the contributed to the development of the new literary traditionnew literary tradition

That StyleThat Style• One of the aspects of Rivera’s work that people One of the aspects of Rivera’s work that people

struggle with at first is the narrative stylestruggle with at first is the narrative style• The narrative isn’t expository (based on detailed The narrative isn’t expository (based on detailed

linear and realistic explanations) linear and realistic explanations) • It’s based more on sensory impressions and It’s based more on sensory impressions and

subjective descriptionssubjective descriptions• Within this narrative framework, conventions Within this narrative framework, conventions

that we’ve grown accustomed to – linear that we’ve grown accustomed to – linear chronological development of a plot, for example chronological development of a plot, for example – fall away– fall away

• This means you get snapshots of dialogue and This means you get snapshots of dialogue and thoughts / perceptions rather than a traditional thoughts / perceptions rather than a traditional “story”“story”

• Although this is like stream-of-consciousness Although this is like stream-of-consciousness writing, the style is called writing, the style is called fragmentation fragmentation ((veryvery appropriate considering his material)appropriate considering his material)

Style with BackgroundStyle with Background• However, this isn’t to say that Rivera However, this isn’t to say that Rivera

abandons plot and convention entirely; abandons plot and convention entirely; every story with a title has a definite plot every story with a title has a definite plot and narrative styleand narrative style

• Rivera even experiments with different Rivera even experiments with different voices throughout the novelvoices throughout the novel– The scene at the end where the voices from his The scene at the end where the voices from his

stories blend together is stories blend together is amazingamazing• To understand To understand whywhy he does this, you have he does this, you have

to understand his backgroundto understand his background– His family traveled between Texas and the His family traveled between Texas and the

Midwest, always looking for workMidwest, always looking for work– Prioritized education despite the constant Prioritized education despite the constant

instabilityinstability– Rivera ended up serving as Chancellor of UC Rivera ended up serving as Chancellor of UC

Riverside before his sudden deathRiverside before his sudden death

More KanellosMore Kanellos

“ “Some try to see in this book a biography of Some try to see in this book a biography of Tomás Rivera. Well, [like] any author, Tomás Tomás Rivera. Well, [like] any author, Tomás Rivera included incidents from his life, Rivera included incidents from his life, characters from his life are woven, but in no characters from his life are woven, but in no way was this a biography…He knew that he way was this a biography…He knew that he was constructing something that was in the was constructing something that was in the mainstream of avant-garde literature at the mainstream of avant-garde literature at the time that he was writing. And he saw the time that he was writing. And he saw the world that way. So it was in no way an world that way. So it was in no way an autobiography. The main character is not autobiography. The main character is not Tomás. It's a broad interpretation of the Tomás. It's a broad interpretation of the struggles of migrant workers, Mexican struggles of migrant workers, Mexican Americans, other ethnic groups that need to Americans, other ethnic groups that need to find themselves in a minority culture. It has find themselves in a minority culture. It has epic dimensions…”epic dimensions…”

Yes and NoYes and No

• The text is undeniably based on The text is undeniably based on people Rivera met, stories he heard, people Rivera met, stories he heard, and – yes – his own experiencesand – yes – his own experiences

• Rivera: Rivera: I saw a lot of suffering and I saw a lot of suffering and much isolation of the people. Yet much isolation of the people. Yet they lived through the whole thing, they lived through the whole thing, perhaps because they had no choice. perhaps because they had no choice. I saw a lot of heroic people and I I saw a lot of heroic people and I wanted to capture their feelings.wanted to capture their feelings.

We Speak in Different VoicesWe Speak in Different Voices

• Rivera wrote about the people – Rivera wrote about the people – la gentela gente• The book is clearly influenced by the oral The book is clearly influenced by the oral

tradition – the practice of passing along tradition – the practice of passing along knowledge and entertainment through knowledge and entertainment through direct human interaction, face to facedirect human interaction, face to face

• This concentration on multiple voices This concentration on multiple voices helps to connect the novel to the helps to connect the novel to the traditions we mentioned earliertraditions we mentioned earlier

• It also emphasizes that the book is about It also emphasizes that the book is about a community (and communal experience) a community (and communal experience) rather than a traditional protagonist / rather than a traditional protagonist / antagonist pairingantagonist pairing

The Lost YearThe Lost Year

• The larger story itself is framed by The larger story itself is framed by the opening and closing sections, in the opening and closing sections, in which we are aware of a young boy which we are aware of a young boy who has lost everythingwho has lost everything

• It’s a deeply confusing opening for It’s a deeply confusing opening for most people, mainly because it’s not most people, mainly because it’s not clear who the boy is or what he clear who the boy is or what he representsrepresents

The Space BetweenThe Space Between• The tales and vignettes between the framing The tales and vignettes between the framing

stories take place in seemingly unrelated stories take place in seemingly unrelated places and unspecified points in timeplaces and unspecified points in time

• These stories allegorically depict twelve These stories allegorically depict twelve months’ (one year’s) worth of collective months’ (one year’s) worth of collective migrant experiences – and the novel serves as migrant experiences – and the novel serves as a communal history, covering the lives, loves, a communal history, covering the lives, loves, and losses of oft-forgotten men and womenand losses of oft-forgotten men and women

• In other words, the framing story isn’t that In other words, the framing story isn’t that important in its own right – it’s important important in its own right – it’s important because it relates the rest of the book to itself, because it relates the rest of the book to itself, and the beginning makes much more sense and the beginning makes much more sense once you’ve read the endingonce you’ve read the ending

Wisdom, Justice, and LoveWisdom, Justice, and Love

• The novel is deeply concerned with exploitation, The novel is deeply concerned with exploitation, injustice, and oppression, whether it be injustice, and oppression, whether it be economic, social, or spiritual in natureeconomic, social, or spiritual in nature

• As a result, …As a result, …And the Earth Did Not Devour HimAnd the Earth Did Not Devour Him also functions as a memorial to, and also functions as a memorial to, and reconstitution of, the “forgotten history of a reconstitution of, the “forgotten history of a people’s oppression and struggles” – and as an people’s oppression and struggles” – and as an eruption of America’s suppressed political eruption of America’s suppressed political unconsciousunconscious

• As alluded to before, the novel was written As alluded to before, the novel was written during the organization of the United Farm during the organization of the United Farm Movement in California and the Chicano Civil Movement in California and the Chicano Civil Rights MovementRights Movement

• Allegorical reference to the farm workers’ Allegorical reference to the farm workers’ movement, coming out of the fields and movement, coming out of the fields and shadows as invisible labor, demanding their shadows as invisible labor, demanding their place in the sunplace in the sun

What the Boy MeansWhat the Boy Means• In many ways, the collection of stories in this In many ways, the collection of stories in this

book are about gaining, re-gaining, or losing book are about gaining, re-gaining, or losing something – whether it’s identity, faith, or hopesomething – whether it’s identity, faith, or hope– Remember, the child must go from being lost to being Remember, the child must go from being lost to being

found in order for the community to connect with itselffound in order for the community to connect with itself• The boy represents the developing The boy represents the developing

Chicano/migrant community – lacking self-Chicano/migrant community – lacking self-awareness, struggling to understand itself awareness, struggling to understand itself through experience, unaware of its powerthrough experience, unaware of its power– This is a community in search of its identity; it needs an This is a community in search of its identity; it needs an

idea of what that isidea of what that is• The book is about that struggle to understand; if The book is about that struggle to understand; if

the boy can begin to remember what he has the boy can begin to remember what he has forgotten, perhaps the community can come forgotten, perhaps the community can come together in solidarity – and protect one another together in solidarity – and protect one another in a world that abuses themin a world that abuses them

The Answers to the QuestionsThe Answers to the Questions

• The narrator in “The Lost Year” is stripped of The narrator in “The Lost Year” is stripped of subject and identity, born into a world of absence subject and identity, born into a world of absence and loss, as Saldivar puts it and loss, as Saldivar puts it

• He must attempt to rediscover his name, and to He must attempt to rediscover his name, and to recover the events that compose recover the events that compose un aun añño perdidoo perdido, , the lost yearthe lost year

• He begins the novel with no sense of name or He begins the novel with no sense of name or place; he calls out and tries to listen without place; he calls out and tries to listen without realizing that he is the one trying to speakrealizing that he is the one trying to speak– He is not even sure whether he is awake or dreaming – He is not even sure whether he is awake or dreaming –

unsure of who he is or what he is experiencingunsure of who he is or what he is experiencing• What What isis the Chicano/migrant experience? This the Chicano/migrant experience? This

novel attempts to help define itnovel attempts to help define it– If the child can remember, he – and the community – can If the child can remember, he – and the community – can

gain self-awarenessgain self-awareness– As a result, we as readers are asked to examine the As a result, we as readers are asked to examine the

relationship between individuality and collectivityrelationship between individuality and collectivity

By NecessityBy Necessity

• What’s fascinating about this community What’s fascinating about this community is the real way in which solidarity can help is the real way in which solidarity can help protect people – can help them survive – in protect people – can help them survive – in a world that refuses to care for or help a world that refuses to care for or help themthem

• This community will form because the This community will form because the people people needneed it to form it to form

• They’re in a position where they’ve They’re in a position where they’ve already lost just about everything, and already lost just about everything, and every day is simply a struggle to avoid every day is simply a struggle to avoid losing the restlosing the rest

No Exit, No EscapeNo Exit, No Escape• So much is lost over the course of …So much is lost over the course of …And the And the

Earth Did Not Devour HimEarth Did Not Devour Him – lives, innocence, – lives, innocence, faith – that the book can feel almost oppressive faith – that the book can feel almost oppressive at timesat times

• That’s somewhat the point – there isn’t really That’s somewhat the point – there isn’t really an escape for the migrant workers and families, an escape for the migrant workers and families, at least not one provided by the outside worldat least not one provided by the outside world

• If they want to change their lives, change their If they want to change their lives, change their fates, they need to come together and agitate fates, they need to come together and agitate for changefor change

• Only through the help of others can we hope to Only through the help of others can we hope to save ourselves – and only through our save ourselves – and only through our connections to others, to the world, can we connections to others, to the world, can we become truly self-awarebecome truly self-aware

Making It ClearMaking It Clear

• Now that we understand Rivera’s Now that we understand Rivera’s intentions, the story doesn’t seem so intentions, the story doesn’t seem so confusingconfusing– Boy = Chicano migrant communityBoy = Chicano migrant community– Year = Sense of shared experiences and Year = Sense of shared experiences and

heritageheritage– Call/Name = Community searching for its Call/Name = Community searching for its

identity and purpose; first steps towards self-identity and purpose; first steps towards self-awarenessawareness

• Unity frees us, and shared heritage gets Unity frees us, and shared heritage gets us there…but can heritage harm as well?us there…but can heritage harm as well?– We study faith throughout the textWe study faith throughout the text

Questioning FaithQuestioning Faith• One of the accepted truths Rivera chooses to One of the accepted truths Rivera chooses to

question – or at least examine – is the role of question – or at least examine – is the role of religion in the migrant experiencereligion in the migrant experience

• Rivera posits that heritage and unity can free you Rivera posits that heritage and unity can free you – but will faith simply convince you to accept – but will faith simply convince you to accept your bondage?your bondage?

• This is one of the controversial aspects of the This is one of the controversial aspects of the novel, as the characters experience a great deal novel, as the characters experience a great deal of religious turmoilof religious turmoil

• This is also one of the reasons that the This is also one of the reasons that the “innocence” theme is so important – Rivera “innocence” theme is so important – Rivera shows the crumbling of faith shows the crumbling of faith in the young in the young as a as a response to a cruel and unjust worldresponse to a cruel and unjust world

Blind TruthBlind Truth• While faith is not placed in the best light over the While faith is not placed in the best light over the

course of the book, Rivera seems less interested course of the book, Rivera seems less interested in criticizing faith than in studying the in criticizing faith than in studying the ramifications of its loss – and what causes it to ramifications of its loss – and what causes it to disappeardisappear

• What he does seem to criticize – in keeping with What he does seem to criticize – in keeping with El Movemiento’s philosophies – is El Movemiento’s philosophies – is blindblind acceptance or acceptance or blindblind faith faith

• After all, the movement is predicated on After all, the movement is predicated on questioning the things (and injustices) that we questioning the things (and injustices) that we have taken for granted, even unconsciouslyhave taken for granted, even unconsciously– If you understand the larger themes Rivera is If you understand the larger themes Rivera is

grappling with – as well as his larger ideological grappling with – as well as his larger ideological concerns – it’s easier to understand why religion concerns – it’s easier to understand why religion plays the role it does early in this novelplays the role it does early in this novel

– Does the search for the truth set you free?Does the search for the truth set you free?

No Loneliness Like TheirsNo Loneliness Like Theirs

• The flip side of freedom is loneliness The flip side of freedom is loneliness and isolationand isolation

• The child in the second story is The child in the second story is isolated by his actions – and his isolated by his actions – and his knowledgeknowledge– They separate him from his mother / They separate him from his mother /

family / communityfamily / community– The truth – as he understands it – is The truth – as he understands it – is

exceptionally lonely; anyone who has exceptionally lonely; anyone who has kept a secret knows whykept a secret knows why

– ““He’ll tell her when he grows up” – He’ll tell her when he grows up” – that’s a long time to carry something that’s a long time to carry something like thatlike that

Undoing and ReversingUndoing and Reversing

• One of the noteworthy aspects of the story is One of the noteworthy aspects of the story is the way that the “natural order” is reversedthe way that the “natural order” is reversed– Rather than keeping secrets from the young to keep Rather than keeping secrets from the young to keep

them in line – Santa! – the mother is blind to the “truth,” them in line – Santa! – the mother is blind to the “truth,” and the child chooses not to tell herand the child chooses not to tell her

– He does this out of love – a deep, fiery love – because he He does this out of love – a deep, fiery love – because he knows that she will continue “doing her duty”knows that she will continue “doing her duty”• What would happen to her if she found out the truth?What would happen to her if she found out the truth?• Think about Mother Teresa…Think about Mother Teresa…

– By drinking the water, he shoulders a burden – and he By drinking the water, he shoulders a burden – and he continues to carry it for hercontinues to carry it for her• This means that, on some level, she has lost himThis means that, on some level, she has lost him

• Who should we feel sad for – the boy and his Who should we feel sad for – the boy and his losses, or his mother and hers?losses, or his mother and hers?

Fightin’ ‘Round the WorldFightin’ ‘Round the World

• There’s a great deal of conflict in that initial There’s a great deal of conflict in that initial vignette, understated though it might bevignette, understated though it might be

• I’ll need you to watch for those conflicts I’ll need you to watch for those conflicts throughout the book – what causes them, what throughout the book – what causes them, what concludes them (if anything), and who they concludes them (if anything), and who they involveinvolve

• For each story, identify what the conflicts are For each story, identify what the conflicts are and whether they are internal or external. If a and whether they are internal or external. If a conflict is external, decide into which of the three conflict is external, decide into which of the three categories it falls:categories it falls:– Character vs. CharacterCharacter vs. Character– Character vs. SocietyCharacter vs. Society– Character vs. SelfCharacter vs. Self

• Note: Some work for multiple categories!Note: Some work for multiple categories!

• If it is internal, determine which external factors If it is internal, determine which external factors cause itcause it

No RedemptionNo Redemption

• If the first vignette was a deeply intense If the first vignette was a deeply intense internal conflict, how do we grapple with internal conflict, how do we grapple with what happens in what happens in The Children Couldn’t The Children Couldn’t Wait?Wait?

• Is this the result of an internal or external Is this the result of an internal or external conflict?conflict?

• Is this the result of a Is this the result of a lacklack of an internal of an internal conflict?conflict?

• Where is the anger? Where is the justice? Where is the anger? Where is the justice? – The boss tries to kill himself after he’s The boss tries to kill himself after he’s

acquitted; he knows better, and his actions acquitted; he knows better, and his actions indict society’s callousnessindict society’s callousness

Questions and QuestionsQuestions and Questions

• From the first two stories, Rivera is contrasting From the first two stories, Rivera is contrasting several aspects of humanity – some good, some several aspects of humanity – some good, some bad, some in betweenbad, some in between

• Is the child doing something wrong in the Is the child doing something wrong in the vignette? What about in vignette? What about in The Children Couldn’t The Children Couldn’t Wait?Wait?

• Is the boss evil? How do we judge his suicide Is the boss evil? How do we judge his suicide attempt?attempt?

• Start keeping track of the “good” and the Start keeping track of the “good” and the “bad” – and start monitoring what separates “bad” – and start monitoring what separates the two in your eyesthe two in your eyes

• The book contains many shades of greyThe book contains many shades of grey• Consider these same questions for our next two Consider these same questions for our next two

stories – the mother in stories – the mother in A PrayerA Prayer and the child in and the child in It’s That It HurtsIt’s That It Hurts

In ConclusionIn Conclusion

• The book’s beginning gives us what we The book’s beginning gives us what we need without tipping all the cardsneed without tipping all the cards

• There’s much more to come as we delve There’s much more to come as we delve deeper into Rivera’s stories – some of deeper into Rivera’s stories – some of which are quite darkwhich are quite dark

• Never lose sight of Rivera’s objectives: to Never lose sight of Rivera’s objectives: to achieve social justice for his people, to achieve social justice for his people, to understand his own identity and place in understand his own identity and place in the world, and to highlight life in all its the world, and to highlight life in all its complexitiescomplexities

• That’s what we do here in B2 in a That’s what we do here in B2 in a nutshell…and that’s why we’ll conclude nutshell…and that’s why we’ll conclude with this bookwith this book