Push and Pull Factors in “El Norte” and “Lupita Manana”

Lidia PerezWri 117

Introduction Immigration refers to the act of certain individual

leaving their native country because of “push and pull” factors.

There is a “push-pull theory” which explains how immigrants are pushed out of their native land and are attract to another country.

Immigrants leave their hometown due to the lack of resources, jobs, few education opportunities and political fears and persecution.

Thesis The push-pull theory of migration helps explains

the movie “El Norte” by Gregory Nava and the novel “Lupita Manana” by Patricia Beatty because it gives a better understanding of the difficulties that immigrants have to face in order to go into another country. It will also helps people reflect on the meaning of the “American Dream” and the costs one incurs in seeking it.

El Norte

Push Factors

What is El Norte about? Political fears and

persecution Poverty

Pull Factors

Better living conditions More educational

opportunities Have their own car Safety

Lupita MananaPush factors

What is it about? Poverty Less job opportunities

Pull Factor Better job

opportunities Higher salaries Better living conditions

Similarities Theme of immigration Undocumented immigrants Cross the border American Dream Low income family They have many dangerous

adventures on their way north.

Gives a better understanding of the immigrants experiences

Differences El Norte

Enrique and Rosa are from Guatemala

Indegeans peasants

They leave their hometown due to the political and fears persucution

Rosa dies at the end of the story due to an illness call thypus which she contracted from the rat bites when crossing the border.

Lupita Manana Lupita and Salvador

are from Mexico They leave Mexico due

to poverty Earn money to support Want to help their

mother and siblings

Conclusion Gives us a better understanding of the immigrant experiences

crossing the border illegally. These two stories remind us that immigration is more than a

concept it is about human being uprooting themselves from their homes and their families to try to make a new and better life.

It helps us prove how immigrants sometimes can make “American Dream” and sometimes not.

For example Lupita Manana shows how Lupita could escape from immigration authorities and resolves to learn English and to work hard to support her family.

Children Literature: Elena Fortun and Celia

Daisy RamirezWriting 117

Thesis

Elena Fortun’s most important contribution to Children Literature were her stories about Celia, who questions society and education, which is important because children during that time did not rebel, question, or go against what they were told.

Elena Fortun Actual name is Encarnacion Aragoneses

Urquijo Spaniard writer born on November 17,

1886 Education• Philosophy• Letters Life• Married Eusebio de Gorbea Lemmi• Two children• Died May 8, 1952 at the age of 66

How Celia began

Summers in Abades • A small town in Segovia Magazine Black and White

in 1928

Celia

Blonde 7 year old Belonged to the Spaniard

bourgeoisie Cuchifritin• Little Brother Said what she thought Questioned society, adults, and

education• She was advanced for her time

Impact

People actually thought she was real Asked Fortun:• How she was doing• If he had a boyfriend• If she ever though of getting married Celia was Fortun’s most important and loved

character because she called children’s attention to transmit her thoughts about society

Celia today

Jose Luis Borau o 1992

• Produced a series of television shows about Celia

Is only known in Spain since Fortun did not publish outside of the country

Is not read as much since times have changed

Conclusion

Fortun used Celia for her own benefit since she was able to get across to children and see herself reflected in the little girl because she was the same way when she was a child. She opened their eyes to reality and that it was fine to question society, adults, and education.

Comparing and Contrasting

Similarities As literature majors we are

using fiction to represent reality.

We analyze the books of Lupita Manana, Celia, and the movie “El Norte”

We both have children as characters of the story

We came to the conclusion that literature is important in our lives because we learn about new things, and new cultures

Differences

Lidia Push and Pull

Theory El Norte and Lupita

Manana Mexico and

Guatemala Topic: Immigration Immigration affects

males, females, and children

Daisy

Analyze Celia Spain Topic: Children

Literature Celia affected

children’s thinking about society, education, and adults