Literary Analysis Essay on Under the Feet of Jesus

Introduction

Under the feet of Jesus narrates the story of a young migrant laborer and her family. The novel setting is in the Western United States and covers a single summer harvest. The novel depicts the harsh working conditions of migrant farm workers that motivated Cesar Chavez to unionize farm workers. Viramontes is remarkable not just for its content, but equally for its exceptional shifting timeline and perspective, which gives room for readers to consider events from various different perspectives. This essay will give a full analysis of the novel paying special attention to the women experience.

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By reckoning all the things that had the potential of falling Estrella's family, Viramontes identifies their questionable position in the novel. Instability had defined their lives all along. The workers were paid in accordance with the amount of produce they harvest, which consequently relies on a range of variables completely or partly out of their control. Picking is not only poorly compensated but only provides temporary work (Viramontes). This uneven landscape is what forms part of the young Estrella's whole world. In page 4, "It was often a work question, and labor relied on the harvest, their health, the vehicle running, the road conditions, the duration of the money being held, which entailed that they could rely on nothing." This quote clearly depicts the nature of the working conditions the migrant workers encountered.

In page 26, "She raised the pry bar in her hand, fondled the chilliness of iron and power of function, assessed the implications it granted her, and soon she came to comprehend how vital it was to understand these things. That was when she started reading." Through this quote, Estrella recognizes tools which would enable her to achieve things which were outside her power. Just the same way a crowbar enables her to destroy a house, literacy gives her the power to take part fully in society building. The hurtful words of a teacher reveal to the character exactly the power of a speech. Literacy enables Estrella to redefine and hence bring meaningful change to her world. It is only until Estrella is able to express the injustice at the clinic that she is able to take action.

Viramontes comparison of Estrella's inhuman labor is that of sterile imagery of farming seen in supermarkets. So as to increase sales of raisins, business interests have removed the hard work essential for producing the food. If middle-class U.S citizens were compelled to take into consideration that a young girl undertook back-breaking work for them to have snacks, very few would consider buying raisins (H. M. Viramontes). The marketing teams save these middle-class consumers from the quilt by hiding the work done by young girls in the filed such as Estrella through the saccharine, rustic image. In page 49, "Carrying the packed carriers to the paper was not similar to the photo on the red raisin boxes, Estrella witnessed in the supermarkets, not like a girl dressed in a fleecy boater, carrying out grapes with her smile all over, claret lips, the sun a flat orange on her back." This marketing strategy by raisins marketing teams is to clearly conceal the hard labor and harsh working conditions these farm workers experience in the field.

Petra makes a critic of the political and legal system that depends on the migrant labor while accusing it. The very same people who oppress Estrella are direct beneficiaries of her work by enjoying the cheap fruits and vegetables she takes part in producing. As opposed to appealing to the laws, Petra calls to morality. Whereas Estrella may not have a lawful right to citizenship, she has a moral right. Petra beseechs the power of religion, her main source of morality, to ratify her daughter's status as a citizen. This is seen on page 63 where Petra says, "Do not let them make you feel as if you committed a crime for picking the very vegetables they eat for dinner. Should they try to stop you, should then throw you up in the green vans, just tell them that the birth certificates are right under the feet of Jesus, say that to them."

Viramontes depicts the role of religion in oppressing marginalized people in society. In page 77, "Was this retribution for his robbery? He was sorry Lord, very sorry." Following his poisoning with pesticides, Alejo wonders whether he is being punished by God, taking the blame for what had occurred (Freitas). The quote depicts the role religion plays in oppressing the marginalized people in society. Rather than encouraging Alejo to question the unmerited system that compelled him to steal, he is being held liable for his poor treatment by the religion. It is through the religion that Alejo has adopted the wider societal message that he is contemptible of basic human rights. As a young man paid wages of starvation to undertake hard work, Alejo is a victim as opposed to being a sinner.

After undergoing a lifespan of despotism, Estrella decides to challenge the traditional religion. By her own projection, she has never obtained any assistance from the Christian God, even when she frantically required it. Estrella never prays or anticipates miracles; she individually acts in ensuring her friend survive. She can only rely on herself and not God. Towards the end of the novel, Estrella has replaced religion with individual empowerment. She guarantees her own salvation through actions. "But the fatigue repelled, Alejo's body repelled, and she never wanted to think what she was thinking then: God never cared and was mean and she was alone to work herself." This quote explains Estrella's degree of frustration by religion. Estrella frustration is depicted upon realizing that she never prays or expects miracles. She does not believe in the existence of a supernatural being called God.

Freaked in the clinic, Estrella has a crucial admission: the society in indebted to her and her hard work. She toils industriously in the field to have it possible for the existence of other middle-class; it's through her sweat that a nurse is able to procure cheap produce at the grocery store. Irrespective of the attitude of the nurse, Estrella does not owe her or nor the clinic anything. Her tireless labor has granted her the right to medical care for Alejo. Upon reframing the situation, Estrella is enabled to act: going back to the car for perfecto's crowbar. "Estrella has understood that the nurse owed them much as they owned her." This explains the confidence behind her while seeking medical care for her friend Alejo. She knows that both require each other for existence.

In the entire novel, laborers are portrayed as voiceless. Despite Estrella effort to communicate with the nurse, she ignores her, declining to recognize her position. It is only through the act of Estrella of hitting a pry bar against the nurse's desk that she is finally listened to. Through this scene, Viramontes argues that action, and even possible violence, are essential to ensure that immigrants workers have a voice. Estrella's message is snappy, the nurse disregards it since it would need her to observe her own, middle-class honor. In page 51 Estrella says, "You talk for long with them and they disregard you. But you lift a crowbar and smash the photos of their kids, and suddenly they listen to you real fast." This quote depicts how laborers were voiceless and they could not be heard or treated until they act and do something to catch the attention of the nurse or other middle-class citizens.

Upon saving Alejo, Estrella's younger sisters see this as magic. She passes through an automated door, apparently opening it with her magical powers. Viramontes' image remembers the Biblical story of Moses; Such as when Moses separated the Red Sea, Estrella separates the clinic doors (Scott A. Beck). Her bold action to save Alejo has made her realize the real scope of her powers. Her comparison is that of an angel and Jesus. She becomes, like Jesus or Moses, a kind of savior.

Conclusion

Finally, the last part of the novel expresses Estrella's transformation. She believes her leadership will appeal to the marginalized and oppressed in society. Just like the church bells call believers to the church, her leadership will call the marginalized and oppressed to her. She has been empowered; her bold actions to help her friend Alejo get treatment made her a real leader and an agent of change. Confident, Estrella feels she has the ability to assist all those who require her. She usurped Jesus as a source of strength and support. She has managed to replace an inert religion with active individual empowerment.

Works Cited

Freitas, Molly J. "Jesu Crista: Symbol for a Just Future in Helena Maria Viramontes's Under the Feet of Jesus." Soundings: An Interdisciplinary Journal (2018):360-383. 4.

Scott A. Beck, Dolores E. Rangel. "Representations of Mexican American Migrant Childhood in Rivera's "... y no se lo trago la tierra and Viramontes's Under the Feet of Jesus" ." Bilingual Review / La Revista Bilingue (2009): 14-24 . 1.

Viramontes, Helena Maria. Under the feet of Jesus. New York: Books on Tape, 2018.

Viramontes, Helena Maria. Under the feet of Jesus. New York : Dutton, 1995.