50 pages • 1 hour read
Sonia ManzanoThe Revolution of Evelyn Serrano
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2012A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
The Church
The church serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing community, tradition, and conflict. Initially, the church embodies a sense of tradition and stability amidst the tumult of El Barrio and serves as a focal point for social interactions and cultural events, reflecting the deeply rooted religious and cultural ties within the Puerto Rican community. However, this sense of sanctuary is shattered by the eruption of violence as the clashes between protesters and police take place at the church. Once a symbol of comfort and tradition, the church is transformed into the unwilling stage for a brutal clash between authority and dissent.
The Young Lords’ takeover of the church sparks outrage and confusion within the community, particularly among older generations who view the space as sacred and separate from worldly concerns. The group’s presence catalyzes a shift in the symbolic significance of the building, transforming it yet again; this time, it becomes a platform for activism and social change. As these bold initiatives continue, the church becomes a vibrant hub of community activism that offers free breakfast programs, clothing drives, and history classes. Thus, the Young Lords use the space to empower and educate residents. Through their occupation, the church becomes a space for resistance and empowerment in the community.
Estrangement
The motif of estrangement manifests in both familial and social dimensions, underscoring the fractured relationships and disconnection prevalent within the narrative. At the familial level, estrangement is evident in the strained relationship between Abuela and Mrs. Serrano, which is characterized by unresolved conflicts and emotional distance. Abuela’s neglect of her daughter during her youth, driven by her activism and personal struggles, creates a rift that persists into Mrs. Serrano’s adulthood, contributing to her resentment and mistrust toward Abuela. Mrs. Serrano grapples with feelings of neglect and a fractured relationship with her mother, giving rise to a sense of emotional distance that carries over into her own parenting. The Serrano’s familial estrangement is further compounded by Evelyn’s growing involvement in activism, which exacerbates tensions between mother and daughter as they clash over differing ideologies and priorities. As Evelyn becomes increasingly immersed in the struggle for social justice, her divergence from her mother’s more conservative views deepens the sense of estrangement between them, highlighting the generational and ideological divides within their family.
On a broader societal level, social estrangement permeates the narrative through accounts of Puerto Rican struggle and resistance against systemic oppression. The physical and emotional distances between the residents of El Barrio and the predominantly white power structures further highlight this social estrangement. Language barriers, economic disparities, and a lack of representation all contribute to a sense of alienation and distrust. Thus, the Young Lords’ decision to occupy the church can be seen as an attempt to bridge this social divide, creating a space for dialogue and empowerment within the community itself. The historical backdrop of the Young Lords’ activism serves as a poignant example of social estrangement, depicting the marginalized status and disenfranchisement experienced by Puerto Ricans within American society. Their subsequent church takeover is fueled by a sense of alienation as Puerto Ricans in El Barrio confront issues of poverty, police brutality, and institutionalized racism.
Light Colors
Light colors appear in the novel as symbolic representations of tradition, assimilation, and societal expectations. Evelyn’s description of her room, where light colors dominate the décor, is a prime example of this trend. The creamy beige walls and faded yellow bedspread symbolize Evelyn’s attempt to assimilate into mainstream white American culture and reject her Puerto Rican roots. Thus, her room stands in stark contrast to the busier décor in the rest of her house. The absence of vibrant colors or personal touches in her room reflects her determination to suppress her own individuality and cultural identity, and Evelyn seeks to blend in rather than to stand out. Similarly, Mrs. Serrano’s clothing choices, particularly her white shoes, subtly emphasize her desire to maintain a formal and traditional appearance, suggesting her commitment to presenting herself in a respectable and conventional manner.
While flicking through a photo album, Evelyn mentions Abuela’s light-colored dress in a photograph from her youth. The color evokes a sense of nostalgia and conformity to traditional gender norms, symbolizing the social restraints and expectations that the women of Abuela’s time experienced. Similarly, the snowfall on the day of the police break-in at the church serves as a powerful symbol of the community’s relationship with authority and control. In this context, the snow takes on a more ominous, invasive significance, symbolizing the overwhelming force and power of the authorities as they move to suppress the activism and resistance of the Young Lords and their supporters. Here, light colors, which are typically associated with tradition and assimilation, become emblematic of the entrenched power structures that seek to maintain a status quo that prioritizes white American culture. The snowfall serves as a visual reminder of the forces aligned against the community activists, highlighting the inherent power dynamics at play and the challenges they face in their struggle for justice and equality.
