Unit 3 - PBA

Theme: Let go of the past and enter the future. I chose this image because it represents, to not remain in the past forever and to be moved onto the future for the better. Similarly, this is related to Esperanza's life as she was stuck with her past and was not moving on. For every Esperanza's birthday, her dad would give her a doll, but unfortunately her dad wasn't there to celebrate her birthday this year because he died, but still he left her a doll since it was her birthday. But Esperanza refused to open her dad's and other's gifts because it will remind her of her dad, the birthday party she was supposed to have and all other joyful things. So this tells me that Esperanza is stuck in her past because of the tragic incident that happened to her dad and shows that she is depressed, sad, etc.. Other than accepting fate and moving on. And tells me that Esperanza has to move on and embrace her future for good and not be retained in her past forever. In the end, I chose this symbol because it represents not to remain in the past. Similarly, when Esperanza received her birthday gifts she declined to open them because it would remind her of her dad, the birthday party she was supposed to have, etc.. But instead of accepting her fate, she was sad and depressed about it, but she has to move on and look ahead to what's in front of her. The text states, "Esperanza avoided opening her birthday gifts. Every time she looked at the packages, they reminded her of the happy fiesta she was supposed to have,"(Ryan, 27)

Theme: Money buys happiness I chose this symbol because it represents that money can buy happiness. Identically, when Espearanza noticed something was in the trunk, she asked her mother and her mother replied that it was a poor box of clothes, donated by other people. But, Esperanza thought it was for another poor family, but turns out it was for them. Besides, Esperanza was rifled because she didn't want to wear those donated clothes. But moments later, her mother vexedly explained how poor they are and how they don't have money to buy such luxurious things as they were before her father died, so they have no choice but to wear the donated clothes. So, this explains to me that Esperanza’s is poor and don’t have money to buy things, but if they had money, they can buy anything and they can be happy as they were before the sad incident that happened to her dad. In the end, I chose this symbol because it represents that money can keep you away from sadness and identically when Esperanza’s family didn’t have much money to buy clothes and other stuff, they had to wear donated clothes. The text states, “That's when Esperanza noticed the old trunk with the leather straps that the nuns had left. ‘What is in the trunk?’ she asked. ‘Our papers to travel. And clothes from the poor box at the convent,’ ‘The poor box?’ ‘People donate them,’ said Mama, ‘for others who cannot afford to buy their own,’ ‘Mama, at a time like this, must we worry about some poor family who needs clothes?’ ‘Esperanza,’ said Mama. ‘We have little money and Hortensia, Alfonso, and Miguel are no longer our servants,’”(Ryan, 52)

Theme: It’s fine if you do something wrong, just learn it and do it the right way next time. I chose this image because it represents its okay to do things wrong. Similarly, when Esperanza had to do chores with Isabelle, she didn't know how to do a single chore because she just knew how to give orders to do something. Additionally she was embarassed by how she was sweeping the floor with the broomstick because people were laughing at her. But, then Miguel understood the situation, came to help Esperanza and taught how to sweep the floor. This tells me that Miguel was okay with Esperana doing things wrong because she doesn't and hasn't learned it yet. In the end, I chose this image because it symbolizes it's completely okay to do things wrong and Miguel was also okay with Esperanza doing chores wrong because she didn't know and hasn't learned it yet. The text said, “Esperanza groaned. ‘I will never be able to show my face,’ She put her head in her hands until she heard someone else come into the room. Esperanza looked up to see Miguel, holding a broom and a dustpan. But he wasn’t laughing. She looked down and bit her lip so she wouldn’t cry in front of him. He shut the door, then stood in front of her and said, ‘How would you know how to sweep a floor? The only thing that you ever learned was how to give orders. That is not your fault. Anza, look at me,’” (Ryan, 118)

Theme: Never give up and keep pushing until you reach your dreams. I chose this symbol because it symbolizes to not give up and keep pushing forward no matter what. Likely, in the end of the story, Esperanza accomplished her dreams because she never gave up on anything and kept pushing forward no matter how hard the obstacle was or how long it took her to solve it. Even when she was distracted by her feelings. For example, when her father died, she was sad but still she managed to move on, when her mother was admitted in the hospital she couldn't concentrate on anything but she never gave up, and even when she had to get her Abuelita where they are living, learning english even though she was Mexican, etc.. In the end, I chose this symbol because it represents to keep pushing forward no matter what and likely at the end of the story Esperanza was able to achieve every dream of hers because she never gave up on any situation The text states, "She soared with the anticipation of dreams she never knew she could have, of learning English, of supporting her family, of somebody buying a tiny house. Miguel had been right about never giving up, and she had been right, too, about rising above those who held them down,"(Ryan, 250).

Theme: Don't be afraid to start over. I chose this image because this represents not being afraid to start over again and again. Relatedly, when Esperanza had to leave her Abuelita there, she was worried, sad, and she didn't want to leave her. But her Abuelita was explaining how she should not be afraid to start over, as she also struggled when she was young and how she had to overcome the hard obstacles and challenges. So this tells me that Esperanza should not be afraid to start over even if she is scared, afraid, etc.. Or life can turn into burning hell. In the end, I chose this image because it symbolizes it's okay to start over and relatedly Esperanza was not feeling happy when she had to leave her Abuelita there, but her Abuelita explained that she should not be afraid to start over no matter what. The text stated, "Abuelita squeezed Esperanza's hand. 'Do not be afraid to start over. When I was your age, I left Spain with my mother, father, and sisters. A Mexican official had offered my father a job here in Mexico. So we came, We had to take several ships and the journey lasted months. There were many hard times. But life was also exciting,’"(Ryan 49).