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Gary Soto Theme

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Gary Soto used a multitude of story elements to develop the themes in his stories. Two of those stories are Growing up and No Guitar Blues.The two use similar yet different elements for the development of theme, the characters actions, internal conflict, and external conflict.

Firstly, Gary Soto uses the character’s actions as a way to develop his themes. In Growing Up, the action is Maria worrying about her family. But in No Guitar Blues, the action is Fausto praying and singing as a way to repent is his sins after he received a twenty dollar bill. Maria’s action is the main part of the theme. As the theme is worry won’t help your heart. I came to this conclusion because of she “...worried herself sick listening to the radio for news of an accident.” But then when her family gets home from the trip, she decides that she was going to be as rude as possible to get back at them. So all the worrying she did, didn’t change a thing. The theme in No Guitar Blues could be giving can help your heart and soul. This is because Fausto lied about where the dog he found was to the dog’s owner. …show more content…
But he only does this in Growing up. As in No Guitar Blues, the conflict is only internal. Soto doesn't have Fausto getting in a fist fight with anyone nor any arguments. In Growing Up, however, Maria has a large argument with her father about the upcoming trip. For example “ Her father's eye locked on her with a dark stare. Maria had seen that stare before. She pleaded in a soft daughterly voice…”The argument is the main source of external conflict seen.

Gary Soto uses many techniques to develop the theme. Some of them are consistent, others not as much. Growing Up and No Guitar Blues use similar yet different elements for the development of theme, the characters actions, internal conflict, and external conflict. These all develop theme in their own way. Each one works its magic in Gary Soto’s short

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