Breaking Through

The overriding theme of survival being dependent upon uncontrollable variables continues to dominate the plot, with constant references to the significance of strawberries. Specifically, the repercussions of the failed strawberry farm trigger a downward psychological spiral for Mr. Jimenez, who becomes pessimistic about the possibility of the family fighting its way out of poverty. The author relates a poignant anecdote relating to normal sibling rivalry and his amusement turning into terror upon realizing that Ito, the sharecropper who employs the family, has witnessed him throwing a rotten strawberry at his older brother. Similarly, the author alludes to extreme measures to eradicate the “stain” of strawberries throughout the narrative. On the evening prior to his first day of high school, the author tries to remove the berry stains by cleaning his hands with bleach.

Comparable anecdotes exist throughout the book; the reader may recall that Francisco and Roberto washed with Fab detergent instead of body soap prior to being treated to dinner in a steak restaurant. The reader is reminded of the anecdote told by the author at the beginning of the book when he describes himself, Roberto and their parents digging through the dirt under the fence at the border in order to enter the United States. The implication appears to be that, physically and psychologically, it is necessary to suffer through the pain of caustic cleansers in order to be truly cleansed of the shame and soil caused by working as a picker and having initially arrived in the country without documentation.

Another frequently visited theme is that of the family’s frequent visits to the city dump, where they find usable discarded objects and clothing. Again, these memories are not without painful connotations. Francisco suffers the results of a humiliating haircut given to him by his father with a rusty pair of clippers from the dump that results in his foregoing his beloved dances at the Vets club for the remainder of the summer. When his sneakers are stolen from his gym locker, the author’s younger brothers bring home a pair salvaged from the dump that result in a painful and lingering case of athlete’s foot. The brothers hide their hard-earned wages in a chipped bust of Jesus Christ found at the dump after burglars steal cash from the initial, overly predictable hiding place under their mattress. The use of the image of Christ as the protector of their cash wages mirrors the combination of their mother’s sense of being protected by faith in God, coupled with their father’s hardnosed pragmatism regarding the importance of money and hard work.

While further education holds the promise of fulfilling Francisco’s dream of becoming a teacher, it also leads to his questioning of cultural norms within his own family. When his social studies teacher shows a film depicting an angry teenager throwing his books to the floor during an argument with his father, the author reflects upon the rule within his own home: no one is allowed to express an opinion contrary to that of his own father’s. Although Papa clearly loves all his children, he exhibits a taciturn and cynical reaction when Francisco shares his dream of becoming a teacher, stating that the profession is reserved for those with money. Papa’s disappointment over his failed strawberry-farm venture, coupled with his increasing physical disability and chronic back pain, serve to color his world view with pessimism. Mama seeks to rationalize his behavior, reminding Francisco of his father’s various difficulties and suggesting that perhaps the older man’s comment regarding teaching was intended to make the boy think his plan through clearly.

The family largely adheres to conventional cultural gender roles. Mama, as tradition dictates, absorbs the brunt of her bitter husband’s anger, rationalizes his behavior, and tries her best to protect her children. Conversely, she never allows them to forget that he is, essentially, a good man who has been horribly disappointed due to uncontrollable variables. She exerts a great deal of energy trying to calm and comfort her husband while tending to the needs of her large family; in this sense, she is a very conventional female from this time period and background. Nonetheless, when a visitor such as Ito is expected, everyone assists in cleaning the house in order to make it presentable. The primary thrust of this family’s existence is to escape poverty and provide the means for the children to have the opportunity to lead lives that are easier in every way than those of their parents.