The novel Rain of Gold is a book that has widely reflected on two major vices that have taken root in the society: social inequality and discrimination. Social inequality is the biased treatment of various individuals based on life circumstances, mostly those they have no control over, such as race and gender. Discrimination is treating people or a group of individuals differently from other people or groups, mostly unfairly and basing it on stereotypes. The novel Rain of Gold sought to promote social inequality and discrimination through the restrains faced by two families coming from one culture and into a controversial other.
Discrimination has been clearly illustrated in an instance where Juan seeks to have breakfast at a Greek café. However, a cook approaches him and explains that he can’t be served at the café based on the fact that he is Mexican. It is evident that the cook is apologetic for having to kick Juan out of the café, but he has to do it in order to stay in business. This is an illustration of biased treatment towards Mexicans as illustrated by the cook who is forced by circumstance. The cook personally has no issue with Mexicans dining at his café, but because of others dining at his café, he is left with no option but to kick Juan out of his café. Before the incident at the café Juan had no idea of the intensity of racial prejudice. He later remembers a warning by his nephew and the look of doubt on his face concerning moving to the United States. His nephew had clearly stated that Mexican were treated as dog shit .
Juan is forced to look for an apartment among the gringo as they Mexicans would refer to the white Americans. He does this by choice, since he is aware that his fellow Mexicans would be discouraged from visiting him at his business. The Mexicans have embraced their fate instead of fighting for social equality. The author further promotes this theme by demonstrating how Juan uses the racial prejudice to his advantage as if it was a gift. Social inequality arises when others in the society tend to believe that they are more privileged than others. Social disadvantages arise from situations such as poverty, race and gender. Lupe and her family move to the United States after the Mexican revolution which saw their houses burned down . Most Mexicans were not conversant with the English language and financially unstable, not to mention the differences in physical appearance as well as accent. White Americans associated the Mexicans with such traits which discouraged them from interacting with them. Lupe and her family hardly make it to the United States as the journey is long and tiring. They make by foot and at times by train. On their arrival in the United States, they are at first forced to beg on the streets for food. They later find themselves in California together with others Mexicans.
Women are also discriminated in the novel with women being associated with misfortunes. When men in the society fail to achieve their goals and dreams or are struck by failure in the course of their lives, they tend to blame it on women. The young men in Lupe’s village are constantly teasing Benito for his gold mine. They accuse the old man of finding a fortune and wasting it on women, and as a result luck would not be kind to him again. Luck is depicted as a woman who is vengeful; he tells the older man that lady luck would not allow him to find another gold mine . Women are depicted as materialistic individuals who only get into relationships with men who are well off. Benito is considered by the entire village as a fool. He is old, weary and tired of his search for gold. When he thinks he has struck gold for a second time, he approaches Lydia a woman he has admired for a long time. When he first embraces her, she refers to him as a crazy man. Later when he explains that he has struck gold and he has the intention to marry her, Lydia proposes that he should talk to her father about marrying her .
It is evidently shown that the Americans treat Mexicans with disdain when Flaco says that the Colonel is a good man since he told the Americans that they couldn’t blow horns at them. Flaco goes on to quote the colonel telling Senor Jones that they are not dogs and they have no right to blow their horns at them because they are not cattle. This is a display of how American soldiers treated the Mexicans, as if they are animals and not like fellow humans. This is proof of the inhuman treatment by the Americans towards the Mexicans, which is based on their varying origins and culture . The Mexicans are not pleased with the kind of treatment they are receiving from the White Americans. In addition to the subjection to hard labor in the mines, the White Americans continue to humiliate through inhuman acts. The act of blowing of horns is associated with cattle which are common in Mexico.
Social inequality is used to depict others as undeserving in the society and the inferior race has to seek approval from the more superior race. Lupe’s mother warns her daughter against falling in love with the Colonel who was already a married man as this would bring attention to intruders. Lupe’s mother is afraid that the white American will throw them out of the community they had become accustomed to. Lupe and the other Mexicans were warned to refrain from getting involved with the American men. In Mexico, many girls had involved themselves with the American men and bore children for them. However, most of these unions ended up badly when these men left for their home country leaving them behind . This is an indication that these men did not consider the Mexican women worthy of being part of their family. They were ashamed of openly being seen in relationships with the Mexican women. Social equality is deeply rooted in the society and the family. Children at a very early age learn about racial prejudice and are taught to refrain from associating with certain races. Marriage is a very important ritual in the society and the choice of a partner is greatly influenced by cultural issues such as race. The Mexican girls admit that they are afraid of relating to the white American men since they know it will amount to no good. The white Americans discriminate the Mexicans as potential life partners.
The Mexicans are unable to have prominent positions in the society and are given supporting roles among the white Americans. The white Americans take the position of employer throughout the novel while the Mexicans are subjected into hard labor. Mexicans are later forced into a life of criminal activity in order to make ends meet. The only Mexicans who have a decent life are those who involve themselves in criminal activities. Lupe’s husband Salvador becomes a criminal who spreads terror among the White Americans. The Mexicans are associated with violence. Domingo is seen beating up Archie the white American after they have an argument in which Archie disrespects him for being a Mexican . The Mexicans are eventually forced to accept the reality that America was their new home and they learn to live with the racial prejudice. Sophia tells her fellow Americans that America was now their home and they were never going to make it back to their home country .
In conclusion, the theme of racial prejudice is promoted throughout the entire novel with the Mexicans learning to live with this truth. Throughout the novel the Mexicans are treated by the white Americans as inferiors. Back in their country, they are forced to work for the Americans in their own country and the Americans treat them as cattle by constantly hooting at them. When they are eventually forced out of their country due to the revolution which was aimed at accommodating foreigners in their country, they find their way into the United States. White Americans consider the Mexicans as inferior, dirty and illiterate and they are forced to find cheaper labor at mines while others are forced into criminal activities. The white Americans have a low regard for the Mexicans, and the young men cannot bring Mexican girls home to their families as wives. The Mexicans embrace this reality and consider themselves as intruders and are careful not to irritate the white Americans.
Works Cited
Villaseñor, Victor. Rain of gold. New York: NY Delta Trade Paperbacks, 1992. Print.
