Esperanza Rising

The recurring motif of plants is woven into all the events in the novel. Esperanza explicitly makes this connection when she tells Abuelita the story of her life in the camp in terms of which harvest season was occurring at the time. Each chapter title contains a reference to a fruit or vegetable, and the chapter itself then references that specific crop as it relates to the characters’ experiences. The chapter titles also mark the time of the year since the fruit or vegetable indicated is the one in season and the one the characters are harvesting throughout the chapter.

Perhaps the most important crop is the grape because it frames Esperanza’s year of misery. The story begins with Esperanza performing the ceremonial task of cutting the first cluster of grapes to begin the harvest. This event also marks the beginning of her birthday celebration, but she loses her father that same night. One disaster follows another as Esperanza tries to adjust and survive. A year later, when it is once again time to bring in the grape harvest, she finds herself having a reason to celebrate, to hope, and to look forward to the future.

The rose bushes that are saved from Esperanza’s old home in Mexico are also important symbols of growth.