What would you do for a chance at a better life? Would you risk anything and everything? For many immigrants, the reasons behind it are much more meaningful than the risks and hardships that lie ahead. Daily thousands of immigrants cross the border in hopes of a better life, however, they are often faced with the cruel reality. Gloria Anzaldua’s poem “El Sonavabitche”, gives us a glimpse of the struggle immigrants, more prominently Mexican immigrants, face; and how the past and the present are still one in the same. Her poem powerfully depicts the dehumanization, and the helplessness Mexican immigrant’s face on a day to day basis. Additionally, her strong use of imagery and the multilingual aspect of this poem help Anzaldua stress and convey
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To begin with, “El Sonavabitche” is a catchy title, isn’t it? You immediately think, “Oh, they’re trying to say son of a bitch but why is it written like that?” Anzaldua’s choice of a unique, Spanish title immediately draws the reader’s attention to her poem and compels them to read it. Therefore, many people are made mindful of many Mexican immigrant’s circumstances. Furthermore, the heavy use of Spanish throughout her poem helps express the immigrant worker’s feelings of desperation and helplessness. The fear they live in by not understanding not one, if not all, words coming from “el Sonavabitche”, but only comprehending his actions and tone of voice towards them. The fear of hearing someone scream out “corran muchachos” (124), while hearing gun shots go off and knowing that “el Sonavabitche” ratted them out to “la migra” (126) for his own gain. Additionally, the works strong imagery and use of Spanish allows for the reader to picture the harsh and unfair conditions that the people who journeyed to America in hopes of finding a brighter future for themselves and for their families, had to endure. Many had to endure long drives with “no food they pissed into their shoes…sabe Dios where they shit” (Anzaldua). The misfortune of forcibly working for tyrants who treat you like “wets, free labor, esclavos”.
To begin with, “El Sonavabitche” is a catchy title, isn’t it? You immediately think, “Oh, they’re trying to say son of a bitch but why is it written like that?” Anzaldua’s choice of a unique, Spanish title immediately draws the reader’s attention to her poem and compels them to read it. Therefore, many people are made mindful of many Mexican immigrant’s circumstances. Furthermore, the heavy use of Spanish throughout her poem helps express the immigrant worker’s feelings of desperation and helplessness. The fear they live in by not understanding not one, if not all, words coming from “el Sonavabitche”, but only comprehending his actions and tone of voice towards them. The fear of hearing someone scream out “corran muchachos” (124), while hearing gun shots go off and knowing that “el Sonavabitche” ratted them out to “la migra” (126) for his own gain. Additionally, the works strong imagery and use of Spanish allows for the reader to picture the harsh and unfair conditions that the people who journeyed to America in hopes of finding a brighter future for themselves and for their families, had to endure. Many had to endure long drives with “no food they pissed into their shoes…sabe Dios where they shit” (Anzaldua). The misfortune of forcibly working for tyrants who treat you like “wets, free labor, esclavos”.