esperanza rising theme essay

Esperanza Rising

By pam muñoz ryan, esperanza rising themes, perseverance.

Esperanza Rising chronicles one year in Esperanza 's life. Over the course of the story, the young teenager experiences many challenges. She loses her father, her home, and everything she has ever known. However, following the example of her mother and grandmother, Esperanza is able to adapt to and succeed in the changing world around her. Although she wants to give up many times, Esperanza perseveres in order to hold her family together and help those around her who are struggling.

Starting Over

Esperanza and Mama lose everything - first Papa , then their home, and with it, their social status. When they arrive in the United States, they must start from the lowest possible class status and work their way up again. Before Esperanza leaves Mexico, Abuelita urges the young girl to embrace the process of starting over. There are numerous examples of Esperanza learning from her past mistakes, especially concerning her treatment of those poorer than herself. Over the course of the novel, Esperanza successfully starts over financially and socially, but she also makes major strides in her personal growth.

Social Class

The tension between different social classes and societal expectations pervades the novel. Before Papa's death, Esperanza makes a clear distinction between hers and Miguel 's social status using the metaphor of them standing on either side of a river which they can never cross. During that time in Mexico, social class was a hierarchy of wealth and skin tone, but in the United States, everyone in Esperanza's camp is poor. The only distinctions are between the Mexicans, the Japanese, and workers from other parts of the United States, like Oklahoma. Esperanza struggles to adapt to the lower social class because she initially refuses to share her possessions and argues with Miguel. While most of the Mexican immigrants in Esperanza's camp have come the United States go for a better life, Esperanza's social status is lower in California than it was in her native Mexico. Nonetheless, Esperanza eventually comes to accept her position as she matures.

Esperanza's family is central to her growth and work. Though she loses Papa and is forced to leave Abuelita in Mexico, Esperanza's main motivation for working hard is to reunite her broken family. Although they are not related by blood, Esperanza thinks of Hortensia , Alfonso , Miguel, Juan , Josefina , and Isabel as her family. They look out for and depend upon each other.

Upward Social Mobility and the American Dream

After the Mexican Revolution, the U.S. offered the possibility of upward social mobility for many Mexican immigrants. Miguel's description of the United States at the beginning of the novel is prime example of the kind of social ascension many Mexican immigrants were pursuing. However, as Esperanza realizes at the end of the novel, it is not easy to climb up any social ladder without money. Even those immigrants who were landowners and well-educated in their own country are grouped into a generalized Mexican identity in the United States. Although the American Dream is something that everyone in the camp is hoping for, it always seems just beyond their reach.

Despite the many setbacks that Esperanza and her family experience, the overall tone of the novel is hopeful. Esperanza learns that by being a diligent worker, there is hope that she will exceed everyone's expectations and bring her family a better life. Even in the darkest times, Esperanza's hope propels her into to action.

There are several instances of prejudice in the novel. Esperanza's feelings for Miguel change when she realizes that he is of a lower class. Later, Marta looks down on Esperanza for her wealthy upbringing. Initially, Esperanza is ignorant about the pervasive racial prejudice against Mexicans in the United States because she is isolated in the Mexican workers' camp. Then, she and Miguel must travel a long distance to Mr. Yakota's store because he is the only merchant who treats Mexican workers with respect. Esperanza recognizes that prejudice exists even amongst the workers when the Oklahoma workers' camp gets a pool. Those from the Mexican camp are only allowed to swim in the pool on the day prior to the weekly cleaning because of the common belief that Mexicans are more dirty.

Esperanza Rising Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Esperanza Rising is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What are some things the strikers do to try to accomplish their mission? Do you agree or disagree with their methods? Explain.

There are people holding signs all over the camp, urging everyone else to join the strike. Some throw rocks and hurl insults at the workers going in. I can understand their frustrations at the bad working conditions and low pay. It seems like a...

How does Marisol demonstrates that she is a true friend in chapter 2?

Reality settles in and Esperanza must accept the tragedy from the night before - bandits killed her beloved father while he was repairing a fence on their ranch. Esperanza hears a knock at the front door. It is Señor Rodríguez, Marisol’s father,...

What gesture makes Esperanza begin to worry?

I'm not sure what chapter you are referring to. In chapter 2 Esperanza is gathering roses in preparation for the big party. She pricks her thumb on a nasty thorn, and thinks, "bad luck."

Study Guide for Esperanza Rising

Esperanza Rising study guide contains a biography of Pam Muñoz Ryan, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Esperanza Rising
• Esperanza Rising Summary
• Esperanza Rising Video
• Character List

Lesson Plan for Esperanza Rising

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Esperanza Rising
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Esperanza Rising Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Esperanza Rising

• Introduction
• Plot synopsis
• Main characters and personalities
• Background information
• Critical reception

Esperanza Rising

57 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-7

Chapters 8-11

Chapters 12-14

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Dolls frequently appear in the story. Discuss their appearance at various points and what lesson they are meant to teach Esperanza.

Describe Marta and talk about how her traits differ from Esperanza and the other peasant girls in Esperanza’s group.

Abuelita says that one should not be afraid to start over. Compare and contrast her attitude to Esperanza’s.

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Esperanza Rising

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Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Pam Muñoz Ryan's Esperanza Rising . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

Esperanza Rising: Introduction

Esperanza rising: plot summary, esperanza rising: detailed summary & analysis, esperanza rising: themes, esperanza rising: quotes, esperanza rising: characters, esperanza rising: symbols, esperanza rising: theme wheel, brief biography of pam muñoz ryan.

Historical Context of Esperanza Rising

Other books related to esperanza rising.

• Full Title: Esperanza Rising
• When Written: Late 1990s
• Where Written: Southern California
• When Published: 2000
• Literary Period: Contemporary
• Genre: Young adult literature; coming-of-age tale
• Setting: Aguascalientes, Mexico; San Joaquin Valley, California
• Climax: Miguel steals the money orders that Esperanza has been saving in her valise. Everyone suspects he has run off with the funds, but, days later, he returns from Mexico—with Esperanza’s Abuelita, whom he has rescued from the clutches of Esperanza’s evil uncles Luis and Marco.
• Antagonist: Tío Luis, Tío Marco, Marta
• Point of View: Close third person

Extra Credit for Esperanza Rising

The Real Esperanza. Esperanza Rising is a work of fiction, but Pam Muñoz Ryan cites her own grandmother—also named Esperanza Ortega—as the inspiration for the titular character, and the hard journey she undertakes. Muñoz Ryan’s grandmother came from Mexico to America after her father’s death during the Great Depression and found work on a company farm, leaving behind a life of luxury and grandeur. Muñoz Ryan’s mother—also named Esperanza—was born on that very farm.