The novel Under the Feet of Jesus by Helena Viramontes was published in 1995. The book depicts Estrella and her family moving to America to have opportunities to survive. The author successfully uses imagery, diction, and symbolism to emphasize the horrific conditions these immigrants had to experience. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The author uses images to illustrate a repugnant environment in which Estrella and her family lived. They live temporarily in an abandoned bungalow next to an empty barn. Because it is abandoned, the bungalow is dirty and has not been looked after for many years. “The smell of desperation wafted through the hazy sunlight, and he pounded his fist on the window to loosen the puffy glass and let in some fresh air.” Perfecto found some cobwebs and a dead bird. No furniture necessary for comfortable living is needed. The images develop further as Viramontes portrays the terrible working conditions of immigrant workers. A cute fluffy hat on boxes of raisins contrasts nicely with Estrella sweating under "a white sun so powerful, that it toasted the green grapes into black raisins." The author used a lot of descriptive words to describe the not-so-pleasant work process of making raisins. Workers had to repeatedly bend their backs to gently pour the basket of grapes into the sheet of newsprint “row after row, sun after sun.” These terrible living and working conditions directly lead to Estrella being more neglected than a normal child. “That the wet towel dried every morning on her tough face, the vigorous brushing, and the tight braids her mother carefully braided were not enough.” For a family that struggles to get food every single day, hygiene and aesthetics are not their main concerns. Viramontes effectively uses symbolism to highlight the harsh life migrant workers are subjected to. Alejo compares the animal bones in the tar pit to human bones. He told Estrella “Once, while I was picking peaches, I heard screams. It reminded me of animals stuck in tar pits.” Estrella later, after realizing her family's distressing situation, compares her family to a "tar pit made of bones." The tar pit represents an insignificant role that migrant workers play in society. Their works are largely overlooked and unappreciated. The animals fall into the pit to produce oil. Migrant workers sacrifice their health and blood to produce fruits and vegetables. Both are erased and forgotten forever. This symbolism is very powerful because migrant workers are treated like animals in the United States. They have no voice and hide whenever they see border agents. Perfecto's toolbox represents the improper education offered to migrant children. All the tools in the chest are not explained to Estrella despite her desperate need to know.. “The toolbox stood guard near the door and she slammed the lid on the secret. For days he remained silent with anger. Thirteen-year-old Estrella and her siblings did not have the opportunity to go to school and had to work. Readers of Under the Feet of Jesus understand the pain of migrant workers through Viramontes' impressive diction. Some words or phrases convey not only the physical aspect of the description but also the emotional one. On page.