Utama 1

Hana Utama

Ms. Wing

Pre-Ap English, P5

4 October, 2017

Epiphany in Plum Plum Pickers

Raymond Barrio’s excerpts from The Plum Plum Pickers depicts the life of a migrant

worker struggling to maintain his humanity. Barrio’s use of brusque diction and imagery,

anaphora and simple syntax, and finally a brash tone to create a moment of epiphany in one

man’s life.

Throughout the passage, Barrio uses brusque diction and imagery to illustrate the

strenuous work the pickers do. Brusque diction is utilized when Manuel describes the enormous

amount of boxes of fruit, he describes it to be, “The endless unending piling up of bucket upon

crate upon stack upon rack upon mound upon mountain” (Barrio 3). By repeating the word

“upon” the author is able to describe the amount of fruit collected but also to uncover all the hard

work the migrant workers, like Manuel, put into harvesting the apricots and peaches to earn a

living for them and their family. Imagery is also applied when Manuel describes the field that he

works at, he states, “No matter which way he turned, he was trapped in an endless maze of

apricot trees… row after row, just like the blackest bars on the jails of hell,” (Barrio 1). The

author uses a simile to compare the rows of apricot trees to the bars on the jails of hell. This

comparison represents how Manuel feels imprisoned in the fields, forced to do laborious work

similar to a slave’s. In conclusion, the application of brusque diction and imagery highlights the

struggle of migrant workers like Manuel and gives insight to the everyday life of one.
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Barrio also applies asyndeton and varied syntax to give an animalistic feeling to the text.

The application of syntax is used when Manuel characterizes Roberto, his chief as, “The worst

kind. To his own people… he was one of them, that he’d started with them, that he grew up with

them, that he’d suffered all the sordid deprivations with them” (Barrio 8). Manuel repeats the

phrase “with them” to imply that Roberto and the workers were once one- they had endured the

same tough work in the fields together from the start, but when given a higher position Roberto

began to look down on all the others. He also describes Roberto to be a “vicious, thieving,

brute,” (Barrio 8). Syntax is also utilized when Manuel is in the fields, he states, “There had to be

a way out. Locked. There had to be a respite. Animal. The buckets and creates kept piling up

higher. Brute. He felt alone. Though surrounded by other pickers. Beast” (Barrio 1). The author

uses one-word sentences to emphasize several words like “locked”, “animal”, and “brute”. This

gives the passage an animalistic mood by highlighting the fact that Manuel refers to himself as

an animal rather than human. Barrio’s use of abrupt,simple sentences gives an understanding of

Manuel’s work and the degrading effects it has on him and his mental health. Overall, usage of

anaphora and simple syntax reveal how Manuel felt as though he had lost his own humanity.

Finally, the author utilizes a brash tone to illustrate the arduous days at work but also

switches to a calmer and tranquil tone when the pickers are off duty. The utilization of a brash

tone is demonstrated when Manuel is refreshing himself, “drank the holy water in great blue

gulps… to replenish his brute cells and animal pores and stinking follicles and pig gristle, a truly

refined wreck of an animal, pleased to meetcha” (Barrio 1). A brash tone is used to emphasize

the hard work Manuel does. By describing the water as “holy” reveals that Manuel was doing

tiring work and was dehydrated. This tone is also shown when Manuel refers to himself as a

“wreck of an animal” by labeling himself in this aggressive way also enforces the fact that he
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and his fellow workers are forced to degrading work. Barrio’s sudden switch of tone from brash

to peaceful is also demonstrated when the workers have finished their day at work, Manuel

illustrates the scene to be, “Sandy dreams. Cool nights. Cold drinks. Soft guitar music with Lupe

beside him,” (Barrio 5). His reversal of tone also reflects the mood of the story; during the day

strenuous work is taking place and therefore, the tone is brash and aggressive. In contrast to

daytime and when work is over, the mood is much calmer and so the tone becomes peaceful and

sets a serene mood. Conclusively, the shifting tone of the story correlates directly with the mood

of the character, Manuel, but also signifies when work begins and ends.

Furthermore, Barrio’s use of brusque diction and imagery, anaphora and simple syntax,

and finally, a brusque tone creates a story of Manuel and his fellow pickers who suffer from

unfair treatment and harsh conditions. These literary devices enable the author to illustrate the

worker’s struggles not only in the passage but in real life. Barrio unveils a day into the life of a

migrant worker. He gives an insight to the arduous work that goes into picking fruit. His use of

diction and imagery, syntax, and tone in The Plum Plum Pickers sheds light onto the usually

forgotten group of people that contribute greatly to American society.

Works Cited
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Barrio, Raymond. “The Plum Plum Pickers.” The Plum Plum Pickers, Bilingual Review =

Editorial Bilingue, 1984.