The published novel Under the Feet of Jesus by Helena Viramontes depicts the protagonist Estrella and her family moving to America for a better chance of survival. Vividly brutal descriptions of immigrants' poor living conditions raise awareness of immigrants' lack of rights by creating empathy through engaging, detail-rich writing. The author successfully uses imagery, diction, and symbolism to emphasize the inhumane conditions these immigrants had to endure to provide for their families. 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 the abominable environment in which Estrella and her family lived. They live temporarily in an abandoned bungalow that many have not taken care of for years. It is so dirty that “the stench of desperation cut through the hazy sunlight, and he would pound his fist on the window to loosen the puffy glass and let in some fresh air.” Perfecto also found some cobwebs and a dead bird. None of the furniture was suitable for comfortable living. The images develop further as Viramontes portrays the shocking working conditions of migrant workers. A beautiful girl in a fluffy hat on boxes of raisins is a stark contrast to Estrella who sweats under "a white sun so powerful, that it toasted the green grapes into black raisins." The author uses various descriptive words to describe the not-so-pleasant work process of making raisins. Workers had to repeatedly strain their backs to delicately pour baskets of grapes onto a sheet of newsprint “row after row, sun after sun.” These horrible living and working conditions lead Estrella to be seen more maturely than a normal young child. “That the wet towel she dried on her tough face every morning, the vigorous brushing, and the tight braids her mother carefully braided were not enough.” This causes the image of a messy girl trying to clean herself up, but the situation does not allow it. For a family struggling to get food every day, hygiene and aesthetics are not their main concerns. Viramontes effectively uses symbolism to highlight the harsh life suffered by migrant workers. Alejo compares the animal bones in the tar pits to human bones. He told Estrella: “Once, while I was picking peaches, I heard screaming. It reminded me of animals locked in tar pits.” Estrella, after realizing her family's distressing situation, then compares her family to a "tar pit made of bones." This tar pit represents the insignificant role that migrant workers play in society; their work is largely overlooked and unappreciated. Animals fall into the pit to produce oil, similar to how 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 in public and hide whenever they see border security officials. Furthermore, Perfecto's toolbox is a symbol of the inadequate 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 by the door and she closed the lid on the secret. For days he remained silent angrily.” A thirteen year old Estrella and her parents..