Vaca Martin Quotes

In "Martin", Vaca, the main character, is introduced as a sibling and playmate of a poor family in the heart of a lower class urban area called Tracy. Vaca's sibblings are faced with a neiborhood newcomer named Martin, a boy who is assumed to be a glutton, due to his large belly size. In response to Martin's rather overweight apperance, Vaca becomes extremely angered. Considering the unwealthy status of the family, they are not accessed to the convenience of plentiful amounts of food. Based on this, they assume Martin's greed, and therefore attack him out of disgust. In the midst of a ten-minute brawl, terms between Vaca's family and Martin reach a climax of grudge and hatred.

As a superstitious child, Vaca refuses to play outside during periods of red autumn sky. Vaca believes that this setting symbolizes the end of the world, and, in fear of the unknown, avoids going outside. One day, when the family is playing outside when they notice a new boy. Vaca's attention is immediately drawn to Martin's large belly. "For us, a large belly meant that a person ate well — too well". In this quote,

When Vaca claims, "It was this intense dislike for him and his belly that made me forget the monstrous significance of the red sky", we realize that Vaca's brawl with Martin could be the very end to the word which was originally referred to at the beginning of the story. In an act of sheer hypocracy, Vaca, dispite the original attempt to avoid conflict and the end of the world, is a key contributer to bringing conflict into the world. At this turning point, Vaca begins to comprehend the idea that Martin's goodness can not be based solely on his ourward appearance. In an act of curiosity, Vaca walks to Martin's house to return his misplaced gun. It is soon discovered that Martin truely is not taking advantage of food resources, as Vaca identifies the lack of food Martin's mother can actually