Essay Questions

Why is the author depicting Murieta as an individual who hated the Americans from the bottom of his heart?

The entire book documents the life of Murieta, and it takes the reader back to his early life. Murieta was born in Mexico, but he admired American life, and he wanted to be one of them. He late relocated to California to work towards his American dream. Unfortunately, Murieta was treated with a rude shock after staying in California when he realized that life was not easy either and his plans were not coming true. The author indicates that Murieta tried several times to work hard, but his efforts did not improve his life. Murieta realized that racism in America was terrible. At some point, Murieta could receive beatings that could leave for death. The event Murieta will never forget was the day when Americans violated his lover, and he vowed to revenge. Consequently, that was the genesis of Murieta's hatred against the Americans.

Give an account of Murieta's criminal life in the U.S.A.

After realizing that Americans hated him, Murieta decided to join crime and live the life he wanted at the expense of people's safety. Murieta immediately joined criminal life after the whites violated his lover. Firstly, Murieta established networks across America to ensure that he had several escape routes if the police haunted him. Murieta became a vicious leader of the gangs that brutalized Americans alongside his Mexican friend called Three-Fingered Jack. Murieta executed his crimes from one state to another, and he knew that police were after him. Therefore, Murieta could not stay in one location for long before relocation. After many years of crime, Murieta decided to transform and start over a new life. Unfortunately, he was captured by authorities and hanged. Murieta's head and other notorious criminals were preserved to serve as an example to those engaging in crime.

How are racial abhorrence and dilapidation among the main themes in the book ‘The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta’ by John Rollin Ridge?

The author portrays Murieta as a frustrated man because his dreams are frustrated by racial discrimination and poverty. While growing up, Murieta admires the life of American's, and he later decides to migrate to California to have a taste of good life. Unfortunately, upon getting to the U.S.A., he is treated with a rude shock because he is discriminated against racially. No matter how Murieta works hard to improve his life, his efforts are brought down by racially driven individuals. Murieta is a symbol of the suffering the foreigners go through in America. For instance, Mexicans are stereotyped as criminals and drug dealers. Murieta later decides to engage in life crime because that is the only way to achieve his goals of getting a good life.