2. Exposing students to different cultural perspectives is a challenging yet highly beneficial aspect to teaching. Click here to enhance your understanding of perspective.
Reread the final pages in The Circuit. How might the ending have been different if the events were recalled in Miss Ehlis' perspective? What about the immigration officer or another classmate's perspective?
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First person is so powerful here, because we have been feeling his excitement mount regarding school and his brother’s job and their future. It seems like he’s almost “on top of the world” and then it all comes crashing down in an instant. Changing it to third person from the teacher’s vantage point might stir up emotions from an outsider’s perspective, but I don’t believe it would be as powerful. Presenting it from the P.O.V. of the immigration officer might prove interesting, especially he is expressing regret for the situation.
ReplyDeleteDo you think the immigration officer does feel regret in this situation? Since he don't have the close connection with Panchito that the reader has, I'd almost wonder if he wasn't feeling something like annoyance, or maybe even a stronger feeling of dislike for Mexicans who try to "work" the system. I just wonder about the emotionally charged racial tensions in parts of Southern California. It is possible that he feels regret, but I doubt the majority of the immigration officers feel that sympathetic towards Mexicans illegially crossing the boarder.
ReplyDeleteI thought the end of the book was especially depressing and touching; after avoiding la migra and finally having success, Panchito's world is crushed. I think that the whole process is so personal for him, from wanting to be a good worker, to his empathy for his father, to finally finding some acceptance (despite his many disappointments, from Indian nickels to loss of friendships) that the power of the book can only be transmitted from his eyes.
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