Esperanza decides to hold Silvia’s hand because she wants Silvia to feel comfortable. Despite her initial hesitations about Silvia's dirty hands, she remembers her mother's kindness and wants to show compassion rather than judgment. This is evident in her thought process as she reflects on her mother's disappointment in her previous actions.
Esperanza looked down at Silvia's dirty hands. Silvia grinned up at her and Esperanza's first thought was to pull her hand away and wash it as soon as possible. Then she remembered Mama's kindness to the peasant girl on the train - and her disappointment in Esperanza. She didn't want Silvia to start crying if she were to pull away. She looked around at the dusty camp and thought that it must be hard to stay clean in such a place. She squeezed Silvia's hand and said, "I have a best friend, too. Her name is Marisol and she lives in Aguascalientes."
—Esperanza Rising,
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Why does Esperanza decide to hold Silvia’s hand, no matter how she feels about it?
She thinks Marisol would be disappointed if she let go.
She knows she can wash her hand soon.
She does not want to disappoint her mother.
She wants Silvia to feel comfortable.
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