Tomás Rivera - …y no se lo tragó la tierra: "La noche buena"

Background Information

• Tomás Rivera was an influential Mexican-American writer and academic, best known for his novel "...y no se lo tragó la tierra".
• The book is a collection of vignettes, recounting the experiences of a young Mexican-American migrant farming family in the Texas region.
• "La noche buena" is one of the stories in the collection.

Plot Overview

• "La noche buena" is a story about a young boy who is forced to work on Christmas Eve to support his family.
• The story represents a severe reality of the socio-economically disadvantaged communities, highlighting issues such as poverty, exploitation, and hardship.

Themes and Techniques

• Reality of Migrant Life: Rivera portrays the harsh realities faced by migrant workers, particularly the children, who are forced to work due to their poor socio-economic conditions.

• Childhood and Loss of Innocence: The protagonists of the story are children, representing the premature loss of innocence due to their enforced labour.

• Symbolism: The title "La noche buena" (The Good Night) is a symbol for Christmas Eve, drawing a stark contrast between the joyous celebration of this event in mainstream society and the boy's reality of having to work.

Symbols and Metaphors

• Christmas Eve: The event is a metaphor for joy, happiness, family union, contrasted with the loneliness, hardship and alienation experienced by the boy.

• The Field: The field can be seen as a symbol of exploitation where children are made to work at an age where they should be celebrating festive occasions.

Language and Style

• Rivera uses descriptive and evocative language to portray the bleakness of the situation.

• Third-person narrative: The story is narrated from a third-person perspective, offering a detached observation of the boy's experiences, enhancing the sense of alienation and solitude.

Overall Interpretation and Analysis

• "La noche buena" provides a heartbreaking snapshot of life from a marginalized community's perspective.
• Rivera uses compelling storytelling and strong imagery to illustrate the contrast between the harsh reality faced by migrant workers and the contrasting celebrations of mainstream society.

Revision Focus

• Understand the symbolism and metaphors used in the story.
• Practice analysing the use of language and its impact on the reader.
• Explore the socio-political issues touched upon in the story and their context in contemporary America.
• Consider the life of Mexican-American migrant workers during the 20th century for further understanding.

Using these key points to revise Tomás Rivera's "La noche buena" will deepen your understanding of the text and assist you in forming your analytical skills.