During Allos’s childhood, many events occurred around him that had him believe that America had a better democratic system and more liberties. Allos felt America would have less of a society clash, less cultural beliefs, and economic depravity. His mother played big role in showing him all sides of society in the Philippines. In many occurrences, Allos’s thought of mind of America was altered by his mother’s responsive actions.
This incident was very shocking for Allos. The event was located at the town of Puzzorobio, a middle class urban society at the market. While Allos and his mother were selling beans, a young middle class girl had came over to Allos’s mother and said, “What are you looking at, poor woman?” (38) and then suddenly struck her basket full of beans and ran off. Astonished by the little girl’s elegance, she picked up the beans in to the basket and told herself, “It is all right, it is all right” (38). Many would be upset in this situation and not forgiving.
After reading this instance, I was angered by how the middle class was able to do this to a poor woman, but then I realized that I was more upset about the fact that Allos's mother did not do anything about it. This was very injustice especially because Allos’s mother was trying to earn money for her family, while the little girl who was already wealthy just disrupted her business. Why should a higher class be able to treat a lower class like dirt? This incident forced Allos to think that by immigrating to the U.S., there would be no social level. He was wrong.
Most likely, the upper class society would pity the lower class because of their luxury and lifestyle. Middle class though, would probably be like if you don’t bother me, I won’t bother you, but won’t mind talking with the upper class. For example, during the bean incident, the middle class girl was offended when Allos’s mother looked at her. Therefore, she struck her bowl of beans. If a lower class citizen saw another lower class citizen such as Allos and his mother, they would think they were very hard working and represent the lower class well.
There are three main different class levels that most governments use. Upper, middle, and lower class are usually these typical groups. In general, the upper class society tends to be hard working because of their well rounded education. Although like some celebrities these days, they can be considered upper class because of royalty or nobility. Middle class people are also hard working, but their educational degree may not be as great as many of the upper class people. Lower class people are usually lazy type of people, but sometimes they can only be lower class people due to their poverty as a child. Even though Allos was hard working, he was still considered to be in the lower class society. This is because his family was very poor and no one in their family had a good education.
Allos believed that by moving to America, many more opportunities would open up. He felt that America could help his life financially and educationally. Allos says to his mother, “I would like to continue school” (49). This shows that Allos has his mindset for goals. He shows his motivation and urge to want to go to school and to begin to gain an advanced education. This also shows that he wants to pursue a respectable career that will lead him to an excellent financial situation.
The society level of each individual can usually be apparent to others because of many things. First of all, most people who have an education usually are in the upper or middle class because with their good education they could probably get a great occupation. Also, the location of which one lives can show what class they probably are. For example, the town called Puzzorobio was described by Allos as more of the upper middle class society. He tells us, “They were more elegant there than in our town” (37).
In the town of Puzzorobio, the town was much more middle class and elegant than Allos’s. He described this place with cement pavements which means that this town is somewhat neater and more organized. Also, he says, “The marketers were dressed in immaculate white dress. The women were agile in their leather slippers. Sometimes they came by caromata, or horse-drawn, flimsy cab, and leaped upon the pavement as expertly as trained dogs” (37). “She did not pay too much attention to her work, but she was admiring the delicately embroidered dresses of the rich women, their smooth, silk handkerchiefs, and the way they carried themselves in the market” (37). This is a very important part of Allos’s life because he notices everyone’s elegant clothes and then suddenly realizes that his mother always wears raggedy clothes.
Based on what Allos observed at the market, such as his mom’s clothing style and their poverty, he feels that it is his duty for him to go to America so he can better himself and his family financially. This circumstance was rather shocking since he never realized the extent of their financial situation until they visited Puzzorobio. Furthermore, this only increased Allos’s desire to move to America even sooner.
Most perceive that the U.S. is better because of a lot of reasons. It could be better because of the different society, the government, the jobs, the education, but this does not necessarily mean that it is a better place to live. It depends on who you ask. Immigrants that want to come to America for these reasons, but because of the “hole” they’re already in, they may never get out.
His eventual immigration to the United States was not as he perceived. Allos was looking for an improved lifestyle of living. Unfortunately, his arrival was fully of class oppression as well as discrimination from the beginning. This utopia that Allos envisioned was nothing more than dream. Overall, there is no such, “American Dream”; it is just an unrealistic place that people seem to believe. There is no doubt that the United States is a better place for Allos but his initial expectations were too high. More importantly, moving to a new place will bring new problems. In essence, it may solve one problem but it may bring a new one as well. Some people adapt to these changes and others have a more difficult time.
Coming to America was Allos’s dream. But dreams can be crushed by direct and indirect external interventions that are beyond one’s own control. Allos’s mother undoubtedly wants the best for her son, but at the same time, she knows that his dreams are too optimistic. She tries her best to help her son understand the issues surrounding his urge to immigrate. He ultimately met an oppressive and racial society once he arrived in the United States. Unfortunately, his move was ill-timed with the Great Depression, which exacerbated such oppression. Nonetheless, he and fellow immigrants had to endure personal difficulties. Allos’s mother may have set a bad examples during his childhood yet they were instrumental in helping him succeed in America.