America Takes a Stand

In my opinion, the most valuable part was when Candido dove in the dumpster for food. He had just been attacked, beaten up, and robbed. Already down on his luck, Candido decides to take control and hop into a dumpster in order to provide food to his pregnant partner. Her reaction, though, is what makes this part of the book valuable. Up until that point America went along with every bad decision Candido made. He drunk their money away and was physically and verbally abusive towards her. However, the dumpster incident changed everything. America finally puts her foot down. She is genuinely shocked my Candido’s actions and expresses her disbelief. “Was he crazy?” She decided right then and there she was tired of Candido’s ways. America decided she wanted to go home. She didn’t want to sleep on the ground anymore or keep chasing the “American dream,” that was never going to happen. It was like America was in a state of depression. She grew catatonic, quit washing herself, and stopped talking to Candido altogether. The dumpster incident made America realize this wasn’t the life she wanted to live. “Maybe you can live like this, but not me,” America cried. It was the lowest part in her life and changed how she felt about Candido.