When it comes to guilt we can either: face it and overcome it or repent and dwell. In the excerpt from the autobiographical narrative by Gary Soto, the author uses vivid imagery, allusions to religion, and change in tone to recreate his experiences from his six-year-old self. Soto begins by involving the reader into the excitement that he feels while glaring at the freshly baked pies, he then vividly represents how he transgresses his valued religious principle, and steals the pie. He concludes by illustrating the aftermath, and describing the remorse that he underwent after realizing he had given into a reprehensible temptation. Soto begins his autobiographical narrative by involving the reader into how delicious and tempting the pies look,
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He experiences a "juice of guilt wetting [his] underarms," and suddenly considers neglecting the "howling in the plumbing," which he previously claimed it symbolized his "proximity to God." This vivid imagery and allusion to religion help illustrate how conflicted he feels looking at the pies. He claims that his connection to God is an essential part of his life, but the heavenly pies are so tempting to him that he is seduced by the scent. Soto claims that he “nearly wept trying to decide which (pie) to steal,” as he is totured by the aroma and is internally battling with his morals. Yet there is a sudden change in tone the moment that he crosses his religious values, and mischievously steals the pie from the grocer. He shifts from being an angelic role model to a delinquent. He undergoes a rush of a adrenaline and excitement slipping "the pie behind [his] coffee lid Frisbee" (16) and is relieved after muttering to himself that "No one saw." He “[grins] to the bald grocer” as he sprints out of the store, blindly crossing the street, and impatiently searching for a spot to fork down the pie. The change in tone shows how he is not considering his principles anymore, but the sweet taste of the pie in his mouth. …show more content…
Soto’s transition in tone begins when he is “(sitting) on the curb” and the “pie tin is glaring at [him]” (63). The tin is not physically glaring at him but his guilt personifies it, and he senses that the pie tin is giving him a look of disapproval and disappointment. His sudden remorseful tone shows that he regrets his impulsive action. This serves to show how he realizes that stealing the pie was wrong. Consequently, he wishes he could reverse his actions and not have to deal with guilt. Soto then implements an allusion to religion by stating that the frisbee flying away looks like an “angel fleeing bad deeds” (70). The implementation of the allusion is to show that throughout most of his life, he deems himself to be responsible and conscientious, similar to an angel. However, he acknowledges that he made a mistake and now wants to flee from the situation. Soto makes the final allusion to religion when he “(presses) his ear… to a cold pipe,” and waits for God to communicate with him (81). Throughout the passage he consistently mentions the cold pipe to indicate his “proximity to God” (15). He feels that this is how God communicates with him, and warns him before committing sin. As a result of stealing the pie, Soto looks to the cold pipe as a way of
He experiences a "juice of guilt wetting [his] underarms," and suddenly considers neglecting the "howling in the plumbing," which he previously claimed it symbolized his "proximity to God." This vivid imagery and allusion to religion help illustrate how conflicted he feels looking at the pies. He claims that his connection to God is an essential part of his life, but the heavenly pies are so tempting to him that he is seduced by the scent. Soto claims that he “nearly wept trying to decide which (pie) to steal,” as he is totured by the aroma and is internally battling with his morals. Yet there is a sudden change in tone the moment that he crosses his religious values, and mischievously steals the pie from the grocer. He shifts from being an angelic role model to a delinquent. He undergoes a rush of a adrenaline and excitement slipping "the pie behind [his] coffee lid Frisbee" (16) and is relieved after muttering to himself that "No one saw." He “[grins] to the bald grocer” as he sprints out of the store, blindly crossing the street, and impatiently searching for a spot to fork down the pie. The change in tone shows how he is not considering his principles anymore, but the sweet taste of the pie in his mouth. …show more content…
Soto’s transition in tone begins when he is “(sitting) on the curb” and the “pie tin is glaring at [him]” (63). The tin is not physically glaring at him but his guilt personifies it, and he senses that the pie tin is giving him a look of disapproval and disappointment. His sudden remorseful tone shows that he regrets his impulsive action. This serves to show how he realizes that stealing the pie was wrong. Consequently, he wishes he could reverse his actions and not have to deal with guilt. Soto then implements an allusion to religion by stating that the frisbee flying away looks like an “angel fleeing bad deeds” (70). The implementation of the allusion is to show that throughout most of his life, he deems himself to be responsible and conscientious, similar to an angel. However, he acknowledges that he made a mistake and now wants to flee from the situation. Soto makes the final allusion to religion when he “(presses) his ear… to a cold pipe,” and waits for God to communicate with him (81). Throughout the passage he consistently mentions the cold pipe to indicate his “proximity to God” (15). He feels that this is how God communicates with him, and warns him before committing sin. As a result of stealing the pie, Soto looks to the cold pipe as a way of