This story is mostly about characterization. It doesn't spend much time describing the setting, and even the characterization doesn't include much background. The two brothers and Ysrael are the main focus, their personalities as seen through the younger brother's memory. I think the theme of this story is that Ysrael may be physically disfigured, but the older brother is an ugly person. He looks out on "the brucal trees that blazed like fires on the mountain" and his only thought is to curse them (pg. 211). He rides the bus without paying, he smashes a bottle over Ysrael's head, he steals from his uncle. His brother just tags along, but he is slowly becoming the same person; he ends the story pushing an old lady with his feet (p. 219).
I think the style of characterization in this story can be effective. Instead of just describing the brothers from third-person, they are detailed along the way of their journey. How they act and what they do is the main way that the author tells the story. For example, when Rafa declines to wrestle with Ysrael (pg. 218), this gives more color to his character as a coward and bully. It allows the action to flow more quickly, and the dialogue doesn't need to be structured. There are no quotes, just quick mentions of what's being said.
Because the story is told from the younger brother's point of view, there is some innocence about the perspective. He suspects that his brother is a jerk, because of the way he gets treated himself, but he doesn't know what it means. If the story were told from Ysrael's perspective, there might be more explanation or commentary on Rafa's behavior. His brother sees how he acts, but he doesn't really evaluate the behavior. He's just following along with his older brother.
When is this story being told? Is the younger brother an adult looking back or still a child? Does it matter?
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