Betrayal and Abandonment

I view the life of Hector as a tragic loss. I see two lives in Chapter 6 on opposite sides of the peso! Two lives, one of failure and one of success. There is Fuentes and his quest for his dream. He took the resources that surrounded him to create his own musical world and culture. Fuentes was a self-taught man that strived to reach his goals on his own and bettered himself throughout his musical journey. He too had entered the world of music before it was seen as part of the cultural life and upper class. As he fulfilled his dream, Hector sat alone, wasting away, engulfed in bitterness and hate for Mexico. Hector had given his life to the music world with little recognition of his talent and profession. He had no support from his country, as he had been ahead of his time. His country was not ready to embrace the culture and prestige of the world of music/opera during his time and as he wasted away, the musical world entered. It had slowly surrounded him as he lived the lonely life of a deranged hermit and he was too blinded by bitterness and betrayal to see it.

The movement and success of the Atolingans’ in Chapter 7 was a story in itself. In their quest for a better life they had “discarded not only poverty but a way of thinking.” They left their country with a vision of success in the United States with all intent to return one day to display their ‘wealth.’ This mass exodus was soon an established community that still thrives today. Chon described it best as he looked back at his life. They had worked hard to achieve their goals, engulfed in the moment, but had spent all their energy thinking about returning and never to go back. Their way of thinking and living had changed for good-they were a different culture and people now.