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Analysis Of Helena Maria Viramontes Under The Foot Of Jesus

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In the except from the novel “ Under the feet of Jesus” by Helena Maria Viramontes shows the development of Estrella from being angry to understanding what she needed to do to succeed. The author uses figurative language and selection of detail to show the changes Estrella’s character went through, which reveals that knowing what things are is beneficial.
The author uses figurative language like similes and metaphors to show Estrella’s frustration with her teacher and her understanding of tools. The author says, “ all that a jumbled steel inside the box… seemed as confusing and foreign as the alphabet she could not decipher.” ( line 58). As Estrella looked inside the tool chest she is angry because she did not know what the tools are. Moreover, …show more content…

The author says, “ They inspected her head for lice, parting her long hair with ice cream sticks. They scrubbed her fingers with a toothbrush until they were so sore she couldn't hold a pencil properly.” ( lines 20-24). The author reveals Estrella’s experience at school with her teacher and how they were more concerned with her appearance than helping her understand the language and the alphabet. Moreover, the author says, “ Perfecto Flores taught her the names that went with the tools: a claw hammer… lopped pliers like scissors for cutting… Tools to build, bury, tear down, rearrange and repair..” ( lines 61-66). Including that Perfecto Flores showed Estrella what the tools that had brought her frustration were what helped her become understanding and interested in learning what things were.
Estrella's character changes as the novel progresses from being angry at the what she did not understand to wanting to know and learn. Through the use of selection of detail and figurative language the author was able to show the development of Estrella's character into a more accepting person which reveals that knowing and understating is

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