Looking for Work by Gary Soto: A Change of Perspective

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Looking for Work by Gary Soto: A Change of Perspective
Gary Soto is a Mexican-American author who wrote the narrative, Looking for Work, in which he describes a typical day in his life at the age of nine. He thinks that if he gets money, then he will live a comfortable life like his white kids counterparts (Soto 28). He shows his desperation to escape the life of melancholy that he argues is because he is Latino. He wishes to live the life reflected in Leave to Beaver, in which there were no rifts in the family or beatings, and in which they would wear bright clothes and have toys all over their house (Soto 28). Although Soto is at first disillusioned about money, his perspective changes gradually, the same way a child’s perspective towards wealth changes over time.
Thesis Statement: Despite his initial negative attitude towards poverty and their living conditions, a change of perspective gives Soto joy and meaning, and understands the value of family time.
The ‘perfect families’ that Soto watched on TV seemed to have it all. He admired the way in which they led organized and easy lives. At the age of 9, Soto admired how the perfect families on TV had easy-going routines, and they had enough money to live without struggling; this is what made Soto believe that the families lived the kind of live that he wished to have. The only wrong in his life was poverty, which made him struggle. He would strive to achieve the type of calm and comfort that was depicted by the ‘perfect families’ he saw on TV. However, it would be an uphill task for him to achieve this goal since his family lacked the same passion that he had. His family did not have a similar passion due to poor living conditions and the status quo since everyone else lived in the same way. In this case, Soto is showing readers one of the main challenges that threatened to hinder his ambitions to rise against poverty; his family had become used to poverty and was living in a comfort zone. However, he was determined to change the fortunes and live a lavish life like the white kids.
The narrative also shows that initially Soto thought that work is about wealth. He shows this desire and passion when he states that, “I decided to become wealthy and right away!” (Soto Work, 26) The main reason as to why Soto was looking for wealth and to become rich like the perfect families he saw on TV was so that he could improve the living conditions and standards of his family. He was determined to ensure that his family could afford good living conditions and foods, as well as the luxurious life he admired. Howev...