In Five Families, El Norte, and in Stand and Deliver, there is the common theme of breaking out of the vicious cycle of poverty. Education is seen as an opportunity to escape from this cycle and
lead a better life; however, pursuing one is a struggle for many as family obligations and discrimination often block the road.
The Martinez family resides in the Mexican highlands in Azteca, sixty miles south of Mexico
City, and is best compared to the Xuncax family in El Norte. Both families face discrimination for having “Indian” roots, in which speaking Nahuatl can be seen as a disadvantage. This is seen in El Norte when Enrique and Rosa attempt to appear Mexican in front of the immigration officers, who grow suspicious when Rosa and Enrique start …show more content…
Because of these circumstances, she could not defend herself and had to submit. If she were to have the opportunity to pursue an education like the students in Stand and Deliver, she might not have been in the same situation.
Conchita, unlike her parents Pedro and Esperanza, had the opportunity to go to school in order to become a teacher. This journey was not without hardship, as the school principal had made her pregnant with her illegitimate son, Herman (50). Though she became a teacher, this brought down her high status as a teacher and so she ended up marrying Juan, a peasant. Because of this and the way he treated her, she was not able to successfully break out of the cycle of poverty even though she had her own income. In the end, she ended up leaving the family due to her father disowning her. Although Conchita’s example is a bit extreme, this is what Ana’s fatherfelt would happen to Ana: that she would get pregnant while getting an education and end up back home with crushed dreams. Like Pedro, Ana’s father wanted her to stay home with the family and continue to contribute to the household. Ana and Conchita, however, seem to
lead a better life; however, pursuing one is a struggle for many as family obligations and discrimination often block the road.
The Martinez family resides in the Mexican highlands in Azteca, sixty miles south of Mexico
City, and is best compared to the Xuncax family in El Norte. Both families face discrimination for having “Indian” roots, in which speaking Nahuatl can be seen as a disadvantage. This is seen in El Norte when Enrique and Rosa attempt to appear Mexican in front of the immigration officers, who grow suspicious when Rosa and Enrique start …show more content…
Because of these circumstances, she could not defend herself and had to submit. If she were to have the opportunity to pursue an education like the students in Stand and Deliver, she might not have been in the same situation.
Conchita, unlike her parents Pedro and Esperanza, had the opportunity to go to school in order to become a teacher. This journey was not without hardship, as the school principal had made her pregnant with her illegitimate son, Herman (50). Though she became a teacher, this brought down her high status as a teacher and so she ended up marrying Juan, a peasant. Because of this and the way he treated her, she was not able to successfully break out of the cycle of poverty even though she had her own income. In the end, she ended up leaving the family due to her father disowning her. Although Conchita’s example is a bit extreme, this is what Ana’s fatherfelt would happen to Ana: that she would get pregnant while getting an education and end up back home with crushed dreams. Like Pedro, Ana’s father wanted her to stay home with the family and continue to contribute to the household. Ana and Conchita, however, seem to