1 It was very late at night on the eve of Memorial Day. we saw her preparing to get off at the next station which happened to be the place where I too had to get off. Just as it was a problem for her to get on, it was going to be a problem for her to get off the subway with two small children to be taken care of, a baby on her right arm, and a suitcase in her left.

Question

2 As the train was entering the station, some white man stood up from his seat and helped her out, placing the children on the long, deserted platform. There were only two adult persons on the long platform some time after midnight on the eve of last Memorial Day.

3 I could see the steep, long concrete stairs going down to the Long Island Railroad or into the street. Should I offer my help as the American white man did at the subway door, placing the two children outside the subway car? Should I take care of the girl and the boy, take them by their hands until they reached the end of the steep, long concrete stairs of the station?

4 But how could I, a Puerto Rican, approach this white lady who very likely might have preconceived prejudices about Puerto Ricans and everybody with foreign accents, in a deserted subway station very late at night?

5 What would she say? What would be the first reaction of this white American woman, perhaps coming from a small town with a suitcase, two children and a baby on her right arm? Would she say: Yes, of course, you may help me. Or would she think that I was just trying to get too familiar? Or would she think worse than that perhaps? What would I do if she let out a scream as I went toward her to offer my help?

6 Was I misjudging her? So many slanders are written every day in the daily press against the Puerto Ricans. I hesitated for a long, long minute. The manners that the Puerto Rican passes on from father to son were struggling inside me. Here was I, way past midnight, face to face with a situation that could very well explode into an outburst of prejudices.

7 I passed on by her as if I saw nothing. As if I was insensitive to her need. Like a rude animal walking on two legs, I just moved on half running by the long subway platform leaving the children and the suitcase and her with the baby on her arm. I took the steps of the long concrete stairs in twos until I reached the street above and the cold air slapped my warm face.

8 Perhaps the lady was not prejudiced after all. Or not prejudiced enough to scream at the coming of a Puerto Rican toward her in a solitary subway station a few hours past midnight.

9 If you were not that prejudiced, I failed you, dear lady. If you were not that prejudiced, I failed you, children. I failed myself.

10 I buried my courtesy early on Memorial Day morning. But here is a promise that I make to myself herRead the selection “Little Things Are Big.” Based on the information in the selection, write a response to the following:

Explain how the author uses details to illustrate the conflict experienced by the narrator.

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e and now; if I am ever faced with an occasion like that again, I am going to offer my help regardless of how the offer is going to be received.

Answer 1

In the essay “Little Things Are Big,” the author employs vivid details and emotional introspection to vividly illustrate the inner conflict experienced by the narrator. This conflict centers around the narrator’s hesitation to offer assistance to a white woman struggling with her children and luggage, underscoring themes of race, prejudice, and self-doubt.

From the outset, the narrator sets the scene during a late-night subway ride, where the atmosphere is intimate yet fraught with tension due to the time and location. The author writes, “It was very late at night on the eve of Memorial Day,” establishing a sense of isolation and vulnerability. This choice of setting creates an immediate feeling of unease, especially for the narrator, who is acutely aware of their identity as a Puerto Rican man.

The narrator’s internal dialogue reveals the depth of their conflict. He questions, “Should I offer my help as the American white man did?” This rhetorical question highlights the admiration for the other man's action while simultaneously showcasing the narrator’s hesitation rooted in fear of prejudice. The choice to add, “who very likely might have preconceived prejudices about Puerto Ricans,” points to the societal biases that inform his self-doubt and apprehension. The narrator does not merely grapple with his own feelings; he also contemplates the potential response of the woman he wishes to help. He ponders her potential reactions, asking, “What would she say?” and speculating whether she would see his offer of help as “too familiar” or even threatening.

The use of specific imagery further enhances the narrator’s conflict. The description of the “long, deserted platform” and “steep, long concrete stairs” accentuates the physical challenges the woman faces while amplifying the narrator’s struggle to navigate his thought process in this oppressive environment. His decision to pass her by, “as if I saw nothing,” represents a moment of internal defeat. The author writes, “Like a rude animal walking on two legs, I just moved on half running by the long subway platform,” driving home how deeply the narrator feels about his inaction. This metaphor starkly contrasts the narrator's cultural upbringing, as he grapples with the “manners that the Puerto Rican passes on from father to son.”

Finally, the resolution of the conflict surfaces when the narrator reflects on his choices: “If you were not that prejudiced, I failed you.” This acknowledgment signifies not only his regret but also a commitment to self-improvement as he resolves, “I am going to offer my help regardless of how the offer is going to be received.” Here, the conflict evolves into a promise of courage and strength, indicating a recognition that his identity should not confine him but rather empower him to act.

In conclusion, the author masterfully illustrates the narrator's internal conflict through detailed observations, emotional introspection, and vivid imagery. The themes of racial prejudice and personal identity play crucial roles in shaping the narrator’s experience, ultimately leading to a resolution that serves as a testament to personal growth and the importance of acts of kindness despite fear of judgment. The story compellingly highlights how societal pressures can inhibit goodwill, and it advocates for overcoming such barriers in the pursuit of understanding and compassion.