A Comedy

Wouldn't it be hard moving every time a season changes? Wouldn't it be hard working in the fields from sunrise to sunset? A two word answer: It would. It would also be hard keeping a roof over a large family's head, keeping food on the table, earning five dollars a day. It would of course be hard and it would cause a struggle, but this is every-day life for the struggling, migrant family in the short story, "The Circuit" by Francisco Jimenez.

This short story should be considered a comedy. The begins when the workers in the family come home from working in the fields all day. This is an example of their normal, every-day life. The three men of hte family, not including hte young boys, work in the fields from daybreak to dawn. Slaving under the hot sun, where if you drink too much water, you'll be sick. After that long day of labor, their earnings don't exactly seem worthwhile, each of them making only five dollars for all of the hard work they put into harvesting.

It may bbe hard for a young boy to work in the fields all day, but that is not the last of Panchito's troubles. A conflict arises when he realizes his English is not that great when it's his turn to go to school, but when he tries to enroll in the principal's office, he struggles for the right English words. The conflict is fully realized by Panchito in hte classroom. This language issue is fully realized when Panchito is asked to read page 125 of a book out loud to the class. He is engulfed in embarrassment when his classmates and teacher look at him expectantly and he doesn't speak a single word from the book. Luckily, the teacher is understanding, and lets him skip his turn at reading. This makes Panchito feel himself stupid and mad at himself for not reading when asked to.

Almost immediately after the conflict comes into realization, the resolution occurs. The resolution is well, it's the teacher himself. The teacher is of a good heart, and understands Panchito's case. He helps Panchito on a daily basis. The teacher was the resolution, but he was quickly tossed aside by fate.

Finally, Panchito goes back to his every-day life, disappointed. He didn't get to play the trumpet. He didn't get to spend more time with his closest friend. Instead, he had to move again and his chances for friendship and knowledge were ripped from his hands once more. He went back to moving, back to work, back to everything there was; everything there ever will be. Panchito's story, in my eyes, is in fact a comedy.