Genre
Biographical fiction
Setting and Context
19th century, United States
Narrator and Point of View
Narrator: the author's omniscient voice
Point of view: third person
Tone and Mood
Tone: neutral, occasionally sarcastic
Mood: adventurous
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist: Joaquin Murieta; Antagonist: racial hatred and judgement
Major Conflict
Young Joaquin Murieta moves to the States in search of better life, but soon realizes that America and Americans are not what he thought they were, humiliating him and destroying his life which results in his endless pursue of revenge.
Climax
Joaquin Murieta is found and executed by bullets while running. The man who stumbled upon his band, Captain Henry Love, didn't even know it was him until the chase ended.
Foreshadowing
"...but the soul of the young man was from that moment darkened."
-Murieta has a complete change of heart after experiencing violence and death of his brother by the hands of Americans.
Understatement
"...and he was, accordingly, elevated into the top of a tree to take a view of the surrounding country."
-understated description of an execution by hanging.
Allusions
"Byron has said in one of his misanthropic verses:
"Woman's tears, produced at will,
Deceive in life, unman in death.""
Imagery
The poem about Mount Shasta written by Yellow Bird contains imaginary description of the masculine, wild, and fertile force of the mountain.
Paradox
"...and was actually disguised the most when he showed his real features."
-referring to Murieta, whose real appearance was known to very few people.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Digger Indians - referring to Native-American people employed as bearers of letters.
Personification
"His sky seemed clear and his prospects bright, but Fate was weaving her mysterious web around him, and fitting him to be by the force of circumstances what nature never intended to make him."
