I have found it very interesting throughout my reading of The Squatter and the Don how María Amparo Ruiz De Burton has used this literary work to somewhat criticize and shed a light on society and also important institutions in our society such as the government. What was brought to my attention as I was reading the second part was how the author makes a case to criticize and mention the way that government works. Many parts in the book are dedicated in criticizing the way government and legislation works in Washington. For example, this is shown when George Melchin is witnessing the decision making for the construction of the Texas Pacific Railroad that is viewed as vital to the economy and livelihood of the people in California. To their misfortune they lose much optimism and pride in their institution and identity as an American citizen. Having trust and pride in your system is part of your identity as a citizen and being patriotic to your country. As George Mechlin is sitting in the House of Representatives with his uncle listening to the politicians who are supposedly working for the people and for the greater good of the country he comes to realize that it is the exact opposite. In reality these lawmakers are not conscientious of the effects their laws have on the citizens as they are purely interested in their relationship with other politicians and the people who truly govern them the ones who control the votes being the elites who have a major say in the governance of the country. They have no sense of responsibility or morality towards their constituents rather they have it for those who are willing to offer some kind of monetary reward to them.
Another point of interest for me in the book is how racism in society is addressed. This is clearly seen in the way the Californio landowners, these being Don and his family are treated by the squatters. It is clear that the squatters have no respect for them whatsoever. The discriminatory and disrespectful treatment towards the Californio landowners increases and is exemplified even more when the squatters learn that the appeal has been dismissed and there is no dispute whatsoever about the validity of the title of Don Mariano’s land. It infuriates them how a population that they see as the conquered ones can own more land than the rightful inhabitants of the country, the Americans. Their pride and feeling of being of the superior race has taken a hit as this racial group which they view as inferior, incompetent, ignorant and lazy has won a case that benefits and validates their equal ownership to land in the country.
HI!
Yes, Ruiz the Burton uses the novel to criticize most of the inhuman and unequal acts that the Spaniards had to suffer due to their race. The novel puts in evidence many of the problems that the judicial system, and in general governmental institutions have. These institutions do not work for benefit their own people, because even Americans feel unprotected by them. This novel reflects all these problematic dynamics of power and race.
Your two points are good, but I think it’s important to note the way in which Ruiz de Burton sees them as connected. In other words, her novel is not simply about the discrimination suffered by one particular segment of society (the “Spano-Americans” or Hispanics). She is at pains to point out that this is merely one part of a broader problem that affects the entire American people (bad government, corruption of the law and democracy). In this way, she tries to tell us that the issues facing minorities are actually issues that all her readers also face.