Summary Of Jovita Gonzalez & Eve Raleigh's Caballero

Jovita Gonzalez & Eve Raleigh’s Caballero: A Historical Novel, took place during the Mexican American War. While military officials from the United States were occupying Texas, Mexican men such as Don Santiago de Mendoza y Soria resisted the presence of the Americano. The novel focuses on the many injustices that occur within the Mexican population. One main problem that is presented is the social viewing of race and class. Mexican people with Spanish ancestry were more likely to be respected or accepted, while those whose blood was mixed were perceived as inferior. In Caballero, Gonzalez & Raleigh belittle the image and abilities of the non-white Mexican worker (peon). By using the narrator to reinforce the negative stereotypes regarding

Throughout the novel peon’s were considered unworthy and undesirable through the taunt of their appearance or intelligence. The perception that one particular type of person was fascinating because they possessed a specific skin complexion was seen with Anglo men like Robert Davis Warrener and Captain Devlin. Warrener’s conversation with Devlin assumed the position that dark Mexicans were not beautiful. In fact Devlin made sure to acknowledge that most Mexicans were dark and short and only when he and his companion Johnny White saw Inez “milk” skin did they find an appealing woman. Devlin states, “We have, and not a pretty one in the lot…(47)”, to display his disapproval of the average Mexican. Only light skin tones were considered pretty and it made sense that Inez came from a well of Rancher. With this the reader focuses on how wealth is strictly tied down to those who are light toned as opposed to the darker population. From the start the author’s made it clear that one person was better if their shade was white, to symbolize the real views of the problem with the ethnic/racial hierarchy. If a person is not the master, then they are most likely a peon. The peon here is looked with minimal desire and most likely given no self-worth. The fact that these Anglo men do not even want to take a glance at the Mexican women because they are not important shows their real position in the eyes of those who actually had a voice. Another example of a negative stereotype regarding the Mexican worker is that it is in their biological nature to not understand the fundamentals of learning how to read and write. For instance when Jose was speaking with Don Santiago, their was a inference of not being capable of learning. For instance the narrative states, “Not that Jose thought of it as a privilege, his simple mind recoiling at the very thought of penetrating its mysteries “(175). The author’s remind the reader that peons were simple-minded humans who