Literary Analysis of Under The Feet of Jesus

Helena María Viramontes’ novel Under the Feet of Jesus offers a powerful look into the lives of migrant farmworkers through the experiences of Estrella and her family. The story doesn’t just tell their struggles—it makes the reader feel them. With vivid imagery, symbolism, and carefully chosen diction, Viramontes highlights the harsh realities of migrant labor, exposing the poor working conditions, lack of education, and systemic neglect these workers face.

Imagery: Bringing Harsh Realities to Life

Viramontes doesn’t hold back when describing Estrella’s living conditions. The family moves into an abandoned bungalow, where cobwebs, dead animals, and overwhelming odors make it clear this is no home—just another temporary shelter. The novel describes the scene:

"The stink of despair shot through the misty sunlight, and he knocked a fist against the window to loosen the swollen pane to get some fresh air."

This sensory-rich imagery makes it impossible to ignore the filth and desperation that define Estrella’s world. The same technique is used when describing her grueling labor in the fields. While a smiling girl in a bonnet is pictured on raisin boxes, Estrella and her family work under the blistering sun, their sweat soaking into the soil. The contrast between marketing and reality speaks volumes about the hidden suffering behind everyday products.

Even something as simple as washing up takes on a deeper meaning. Estrella’s struggle to keep clean highlights the fact that basic hygiene is a luxury when survival is the main concern:

"That the wet towel wiped on her resistant face each morning, the vigorous brushing and tight braids her mother neatly weaved were not enough."

She isn’t just dirty—she is trapped in a cycle of poverty and labor that leaves little room for childhood.

Symbolism: The Hidden Cost of Labor

Viramontes uses symbolism to show how migrant workers are treated as disposable. One of the most striking examples comes from Alejo’s comparison of animal bones in tar pits to human bones:

"Once when I picked peaches, I heard screams. It reminded me of the animals stuck in the tar pits."

Later, Estrella takes this metaphor even further, calling her own family “a tar pit made of bones.” This powerful image reflects how migrant workers—just like the animals in tar pits—are used up and forgotten. They labor under extreme conditions, and their contributions to society are erased.

Another major symbol is Perfecto’s toolbox. Estrella is fascinated by it, but no one teaches her how to use the tools, much like how she is denied access to education. She is full of curiosity, yet the system keeps her in the fields instead of the classroom. The chest of tools represents knowledge, something Estrella desperately wants but is not given:

"The tool chest stood guard by the door and she slammed the lid closed on the secret. For days she was silent with rage."

This moment is key—it captures her frustration, her limitations, and her desire for something more.

Diction: Words That Cut Deep

Viramontes’ word choices pack an emotional punch. Take, for example, her description of migrant workers' bodies:

"Their salt-and-pepper hair dusted brown."

This phrase carries layers of meaning:

• “Salt-and-pepper” hair suggests age, exhaustion, and hard labor.
• “Dusted brown” literally describes the dirt covering them but also implies erasure—how their identity fades into the fields they work in.

Similarly, the repetition of the word “bones” in the novel reinforces the theme of laborers being worn down and forgotten. On page 148, the word appears four times, emphasizing how migrant workers sacrifice their very bodies for survival.

Alejo’s poisoning from pesticides is another gut-wrenching moment:

"His bones felt like crushed glass."

The painful, brittle imagery conveys not just his suffering but also the negligence of the system that allows such conditions to exist.

Key Literary Elements in Under the Feet of Jesus

The following table breaks down the three major literary techniques Viramontes uses:

Conclusion: A Call for Awareness

Viramontes’ Under the Feet of Jesus is more than a novel—it’s a wake-up call. Through symbolism, diction, and imagery, she forces readers to confront the harsh realities of migrant workers. These are people who feed the nation but are treated as invisible.

Estrella’s story shows that migrant labor isn’t just physically exhausting—it’s emotionally crushing. The lack of basic rights, education, and recognition leaves families trapped in a system that values their labor but not their lives.

By telling this story, Viramontes gives a voice to the millions of forgotten workers, urging readers to rethink the cost of the food they consume. The novel isn’t just literature—it’s a statement on justice, inequality, and survival.

Works Cited

• Viramontes, H. (1996). Under the Feet of Jesus. Penguin Books.
• Hidalgo, E. (2009). Helena María Viramontes: Envisioning the American Dream. University of Arizona Press.
• García-Caro, M. (2012). Witnessing Economic Violence: Environmental Justice in Helena María Viramontes’s Under the Feet of Jesus. SUNY Press.
• Ramos, H. F. (2013). Thinking Queer Intersectionality in Helena María Viramontes’s Under the Feet of Jesus. Indiana University Press.