Puerto Rican's Motivation In Little Things Are Big By Jesus Colon
"Puerto Rican" is the most influential and meaningful word in “Little Things are Big” by Jesus Colon because it supports the man's motivation. "Little Things Are Big" is about an African American/Puerto Rican man who is heading home in the middle of the night the day before memorial day and notices a mother with her 3 young children. They are the only ones on the train, and he is trying to persuade himself to help her. Although the fear of being rejected because of his race prevented the man from helping the lady.
Throughout Colon’s passage, he used the phrase “Puerto Rican” to convey the man’s motivation to support the mother and her children. The first example of how “Puerto Rican” effects the man’s motivation is when he figures whether
or not to help the lady in the station. “Courtesy is important to us Puerto Ricans. And here I was, hours past midnight, and the white lady with the baby in her arm, a suitcase and two white children badly needing someone to help her.” paragraph 3 1st sentence. Being Puerto Rican motivates the man to help the women. The man feels obligated to give her a hand because part of his culture revolves around showing politeness towards anyone, especially those in need Colon again uses the phrase “Puerto Rican” to show the man’s motivation. Another example of evidence is how the man imagines all the possible responses and reactions the white lady could have to the man asking her if she would like help. " I’m a Negro and a Puerto Rican. Suppose I approach this white lady in this deserted subway station late at night? What would she say? What would be the first reaction of this white American woman?" paragraph 4 second sentence. This supports the man’s motivation by showing how people’s views about one’s race affect their lifestyle. The man could of have been exposed to discrimination for being “a Negro and a Puerto Rican” causing him to assume the lady would deny his help. The author’s word choice plays an effect on character's choices and motivation. The motivation of the man is supported by the phrase, ”Puerto Rican” in ”Little Things are Big” by Jesus Colon. Without the word “Puerto Rican” Colon could have never shown how the man felt about the lady and what was holding him back from giving her a hand and show the man’s motivation for attempting to help the lady in need.
Throughout Colon’s passage, he used the phrase “Puerto Rican” to convey the man’s motivation to support the mother and her children. The first example of how “Puerto Rican” effects the man’s motivation is when he figures whether
or not to help the lady in the station. “Courtesy is important to us Puerto Ricans. And here I was, hours past midnight, and the white lady with the baby in her arm, a suitcase and two white children badly needing someone to help her.” paragraph 3 1st sentence. Being Puerto Rican motivates the man to help the women. The man feels obligated to give her a hand because part of his culture revolves around showing politeness towards anyone, especially those in need Colon again uses the phrase “Puerto Rican” to show the man’s motivation. Another example of evidence is how the man imagines all the possible responses and reactions the white lady could have to the man asking her if she would like help. " I’m a Negro and a Puerto Rican. Suppose I approach this white lady in this deserted subway station late at night? What would she say? What would be the first reaction of this white American woman?" paragraph 4 second sentence. This supports the man’s motivation by showing how people’s views about one’s race affect their lifestyle. The man could of have been exposed to discrimination for being “a Negro and a Puerto Rican” causing him to assume the lady would deny his help. The author’s word choice plays an effect on character's choices and motivation. The motivation of the man is supported by the phrase, ”Puerto Rican” in ”Little Things are Big” by Jesus Colon. Without the word “Puerto Rican” Colon could have never shown how the man felt about the lady and what was holding him back from giving her a hand and show the man’s motivation for attempting to help the lady in need.