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Sebastian Cabrera

Mrs. Klimas

English 10 (Pre-AP) H, Period 4

1 October 2017

Raymond Barrio: What Does it Mean to be an Individual?

Raymond Barrio’s excerpt from Plum Plum Pickers depicts the life of a migrant worker

struggling to maintain his humanity. Barrio’s use of explicit imagery, short repeated syntax, and

shifting tones creates a moment of epiphany in one man’s life.

Barrio uses imagery to transform a couple of words into vivid images in great detail. As

As one worker begins to slack off and day-dream, imagery is conjured with, “Sandy dreams.

Cool nights. Cold drinks. Soft guitar music with Lupe sitting beside him” (Barrio). Such words

create a sense of nostalgia of better times; it’s a flashback. The use of this flashback creates a

more jovial aspect and focus, helping to forget the harsh situation that is right now. It brings

attention away from the fact these migrant workers are working in such abysmal working

conditions like the unforgiving heat of the sun, minuscule pay, and abusive authority. With all

the blood, sweat, and tears shed so far, some tend to want to relive such peaceful and carefree

moments. Barrio’s flashbacks are able to bring these memories to life. The imagery provided by

Barrio is described in short bursts of detail, but in much great effect.

The syntax of Barrio’s writing style is frequently short and excessive to add emphasis to

every word spoken. In the scene where Morales appears, Barrio introduces his character with:

“A real robber. A mexican general. A gentlemanly, friendly, polite, grinning, vicious, thieving

brute. The worst kind. To his own people” (Barrio). The sentences follow a short repeated

pattern, lacking any complexity or length. The purpose of this is to avoid having one neglect or
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passively go over such important details. Because of this, it won’t be easy to forget how cruel

and barbaric Morales is. Also, the use of anaphora constantly repeats the word, “A…”which

adds more prominence to Morales’ description of traits and deeds. The structures and word

choice utilized by Barrio greatly advance the significance of every detail, action, and description.

The last important aspect Barrio creates with his writing is tone. Throughout the text,

there are several shifts in tone as in the beginning, exhaustion in work created a weary tone and

flashbacks created a nostalgic one; but a crucial tone shift in the text comes from a scene where

one single worker defies Morales. When Morales assumes no one would answer back to his

harsh request, he’s taken back when he hears, “‘You promised to take nothing!’ Manuel heard

himself saying. Everyone turned in astonishment to stare at Manuel” (Barrio). In such a turn of

events, one can easily tell that a man had found his moment of epiphany. Expected to take every

order with compliance like any other worker, Manuel shocks the entire crowd when he defies

that expectation. Through his own rebellious actions, Manuel becomes singled out, an individual

who is finally able to be so much more. The fact that Manuel found himself yelling at his boss

without thinking, depicts his strong feelings to stand up for himself and against Morales. Also,

the fact that all men “turned in astonishment” supports how such an act was unexpected, yet so

eye-catching. Manuel’s actions and attitude tremendously support the presence of a defiant tone.

Raymond Barrio manages to combine certain elements of literary text to further improve

the aspect of the passage. His use of graphic imagery serves as a reminder of a time the narrator

yearns to have back. The syntax used lacks length and complexity, leaving more emphasis on

every word spoken. Lastly, the defiant tone emphasizes the individuality and freedom of man.

All three of these elements tie together as it teaches the public that every individual has the right

to lead their life the way they want to.