Analysis of La Migra and Elena by Pat Mora

📌Category: Poems
📌Words: 795
📌Pages: 3
📌Published: 11 February 2022

In the poems “La Migra” and “Elena” by Pat Mora show how Latinx people are stereotypes into categories that they can only be maids and have to hide in order to not get deported back to their county it also shows that if you are Latina woman and are trying to learn something new it’s look down upon because woman should not be worry about learning their only job is to take care of the kids and house because of these example it show that immigrants are looked as annoying pest that should return to their country. 

In the poem “La Migra” talks about how immigrants are categorized into certain groups in which they belong to like becoming a maid and how one must hide from immigration. In the poem line “You be the Mexican maid” (3) show that only Mexican are thought of as “the help” the figurative language behind this line is that immigrants are only good for doing menial work such as cleaning, gardening, and cooking. Also, in the poem line “You can hide and run/but you can’t get away” (5-6) is a symbol that shows that immigrants will always be scared that one day “la migra” as so known as immigrants will show up their home and take them away from their families. Another part of the poem talks about how “I don’t speak Spanish. /I can touch you wherever/I want but don’t complain” (11-13) it shows how they use the language barrier as an excuse to do unspeakably things. They believe they can get away with this because this person has a badge and they will get violent if you resist their approach “too much because I’ve got/boots and kick--if I have to,” (14-15). Lately there is this line “Oh, I am not alone. /You hear us singing/and laughing with the wind” (30-32) show that even though you may bring them down they will always come right back up to show how strong they are. I believe that the imagery in the line “and laughing with the wind” (32) means that whatever you do to them they will always find a way to break free. I think that speaker is trying to say in line “Oh, I am not alone.” (30) that they aren’t the only ones that want a better life for themselves and their kids.

In the poem “Elena” talks about a mother that is not well educated in the Spanish language also how her family moved to America and how she wants to learn to English but her husband discourage it. In the poem line “My Spanish isn’t good enough” (1) is a symbol show that the mother may not have no prior education that may be because in the past woman in Mexican culture were only thought as housewife. Another part of the poem is “I bought a book to lean English. /My husband frowned, drank beer.” (12-13) show the setting that it may have taken place when a woman only job was to take care of the house and kids in which a woman should be seen and not heard. In the poem the mother talks about the situation “I stand by the stove, feel dumb, alone” (11) means that she does not feel part of the family because she can’t keep up with the conversation. Lastly this line in the poem shows the imagery of how woman in Mexican culture in the past had to hide in order to get some knowledge “Sometimes I take/My English book and lock myself in the bathroom” (17-18). The mother wants to improve her English but her husband does not like the idea her being smart than him as pointed out by the oldest son “My oldest said, “Mamá, he doesn’t want you/to be smarter than he is.” (14-15).

In the both poems “La Migra” and “Elena” talk about how Mexicans are treated and how they are categorized in roles such as being a maid or a housewife. The speaker in “Elena” tells us that woman should not worry about studying because that have a man to take care of them but is also showing us that almost all woman wants to improve them self for their children in order to help them when the time come. As for the other poem “La Migra” the speaker wants to tell us that even though most people want to bring down the Mexicans and stop them from crossing the border they will still try because that want a better life for their children and see them grow up happy, heathy, and safe. In both poems it talks about not knowing each other language for example in “La Migra” line “I don’t speak Spanish” (11) and in “Elena” line “I bought a book to lean English.” (12) show that it hard to under one another if we don’t take our time to understand each other culture.

In conclusion both poems show that immigrants will still be stereotyped by where they came from and how they speak but I truly believe that one day people will accept Mexicans and not judge them.

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