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Written in 1943, Carlos Bulosan's most famous work, America is in the Heart, is an autobiography about his childhood in the Phillipines to the unexpected twists and turns of America.
As a simple boy from the countryside, Carlos--or Allos--was not as influenced from the American dreams and ideas as the younger city dwellers of his age were. Eventually as time passed, he was unknowingly exposed to this Amereican influence when his brother Leon did not light the fire in the hut with his wife to show her virginity. After being away for several years to fight a war in Europe, his brother was probably influenced by Western ideas and like other similar young Filipino men, they "were stirring and rebelling against their heritage." (5) He was asked to do such an old-fashioned, cruel custom that seemed unnecessary to him, and if he knew they were all going to get beaten if there was no fire he probably would have lit it in the end.
Over time, his brothers Amado and Macario decided to journey to America and try their luck there. At thirteen, Allos planned to go to America and follow his brothers, but he went to Baguio first to save money for the voyage. There in Baguio, he was exposed to the American idea in the form of a true story. It was the story of Abraham Lincoln, the poor boy that became President of the United States. Touched and inspired, Allos "...was fascinated by the story of this boy who was born in a log cabin and became a president of the United States." (69) However, this American dream would be hard to achieve for Allos. Not because he was illiterate, but because he was Filipino.
Several more years passed and Allos finally saved enough money for America. He went to Manila to where the ship was, but before that he went back to his hometown Binalonan to visit his family. As he was leaving for the city, his brother, Luciano, told him to never comee back to Binalonan. "Even if you have to steal and kill, don't come back to t his damned town. Don't come back as I have done," were Luciano's parting words to Allos. (89) His brother did not want him to be held back and thought in America, Allos would have a future. In the Phillipines, they were poor and barely scraped a living. Believing in the American dreams and ideals, Luciano thought Allos would grow to be educated and successful in America. Luciano had the chance to stay in the city, but chose not to and came back to Binalonan and regretted it. He did not want his younger brother to make the same mistake. Ironically, later in the book his other brother Amado tells Allos he never should have come to America, having experienced racism and other cruel events.
Once on the ship, Allos began to doubt going to America. "Why had I left home? What will I do in America," he asked himself. (97) The ship ride was miserable and a sickness called meningitis began to spread amongst the lower-class passengers, Allos included. They barely saw the sun during their voyage, and when they finally allowed on deck, a young white woman commented, "Look at those half-naked savages from the Phillipines, Roger! Haven't they any idea of decency?" (98) She never experienced what it was like in the lower decks, and did not have a right to say that. However this was just the first of many hateful comments to come. "Why don't they ship those monkeys back where they came from?" (99)
It was not long when Carlos first encountered violence in America. It was when a man named Paez ran off with Carlos and the other men's paychecks. A man claimed he knew where to find Paez, and Carlos' friend Julio beat him up until he told him where to find him. Carlos had never seen such brutal and cruel actions, aside from maybe when his brother Leon got married, but these events made Carlos change over the years. America would make him become ruthless and always have his guard up. "Yet no matter what bestiality encompassed my life,.. [he] felt sure that somewhere, sometime, ...[he] would break free. This faith kept...[him] from completely succumbing to the degradation into which many of ... [his] countrymen had fallen." (109)
As a Filipinio, or any other minority in America, Carlos was looked down upon. He was not to be trusted or could not own land. When he was in a car with his friends, they were stopped by police officers. They had to check the car for any white women. Carlos was confused and asked his friend Doro for an explaination. "They think every Filipino is a pimp, said his friend." (121) A white woman and a Filipino could not get married at that time.
Among all unforunate events there are happy moments as well. In America, Carlos was reunited with his brother Amado. However, Amado did not recognize at first, but after persuasion he readily greeted his younger brother. "I am your brother. I am Allos! Remember the village of Mangusmana? Remember when you beat our carabao in the rain? When you touched my head and then ran to Binalonan? Rememeber, Amado?" (123) Carlos fought for their childhood bond that was not breaking. "Frantically ...[he] searched in ..[his] mind mind for other remembrances of the past which might remind him [Amado] of [Carlos]... and re-establish a bridge between ...[Amado] and [his] childhood." (123) What finally brought Amado to realization that the man before him was his brother Carlos was the mention of their mother, Meteria. Amado hugged Carlos with love then, and Carlos knew that Amado had loved their mother but did not have the chance to express his feelings. "Yes, to him, and to [Carlos] afterward, to know [their] mother's name was to know the password into the secrets of the past, into childhood and pleasant memories; but it was also a guiding star, a talisman, a charm that lights us to manhood and decency." (123)
Carlos also started to gamble, something his parents would have advised him not to do. He learned how to cheat the unexperienced players, although he was scared of their physical ability. They could pummel him until Carlos gave up all his money. One day he won all the money of those who ventured into the gambling house. "Frank told [him] one of the men had a wife who was in a hospital. But the man was shy and full of pride...[he] could not do anything for him. Why did he gamble his money when his wife needed it? Did he think he had the right to marry when he was scrubbing floors for thirty-five dollars a month? To hell with him!" (179) Now, peasant couples in the Phillipines struggled as a family to make ends meet, but here in America and Filipino man gambled wages away when his wife was in the hospital. Lives from two parts of the world contrasted greatly. Also, the Carlos long ago would not have swore. Perhaps he has grown up, or maybe it is because he has been expected to a rough way of life.
Throught his life Carlos was just simply called Carlos, or Allos, or other harsh racist names. Never in his life was he addressed formally and with respect, and when it happened he was quite surprised. As he was leaving, a friend called out, "Come back to see us again... Come back Mr. Bulosan!" (173) Among the uneven edges and cliffs of life there is some decency and respect as well.