Esperanza

Marta is about Miguel’s age and has a sharp tongue. Upon learning that Esperanza was once wealthy, Marta begins to taunt her. Esperanza tries to explain that her father was a kind man and Isabel explains that Esperanza lost everything in a fire, but Marta does not stop ridiculing the new arrival.

Marta has become jaded after suffering her own losses and living in the San Joaquin Valley for many years. She explains the reality of the Mexican workers' situation. Migrant workers are separated by place of origin (Mexico, Japan, Oklahoma) so that there is no inter-communication between ethnic groups. Marta explains that landowners do this to keep the workers from uniting in an uprising against their masters.