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 Manana

Push 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