"Three Hundred Pesos" Story Analysis

Three Hundred Pesos

MEET THE AUTHOR

Manuela Williams Crosno (1905-1977) lived most of her life in New Mexico. She loved the State; it is where all of her stories take place. They all take place in and around Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Taos. Crosno usually wrote about Spanish settlers who lived on the land more than one hundred years ago. Crosno was a teacher of English for 17 years. She was also a poet and an artist. Some of her most beautiful poems can be found in the book The Other Side of Nowhere. Also, her article “Why I Teach School” won firsts prize in a statewide writing contest.

 ABOUT THE STORY

“Three Hundred Pesos” tells the story of three brothers, Anastacio, Emilio and Berta. During the story Emilio and Berta looks for Anastacio for help but he reject them in all situations they need it. Since Anastacio´s was a little boy he dreamed was to have three hundred pesos for had his own store. Always Anastacio had many problems with the crops and loose it everything,  he blamed his brothers for that. At the end when he tried to sell his new pinto beans crop he suffered an accident and died. The traveler who causes the accident paid fifty pesos and Anastasio finally could have  the three hundred pesos. Emilio and Berta found the dead body, but with the money they  paid a beautiful funeral to their brother.

PLOT DIAGRAM                                 

Conflict

Anastacio Perea wanted his own store, and need earn Three hundred pesos for that.

Rising Action

Emilio went to visit his sister, Berta. Emilio needed some money for his sick child, so he asked Anastacio for one peso.

Anastacio told Emilio to go away. Berta lends the peso to Emilio.

That night there was a violent storm that destroyed Anastacio´s corn.

Emilio asked Anastacio to join him for supper; Anastacio said that he did no nave time to eat with Emilio.

A few weeks later Anastacio planted his corn again.

In July of that year, his sister Berta came to see him, Berta asked Anastacio to lend her some money but he wouldn´t give Berta any money.

The next day Anastacio discovered some sheep destroyed his corn.

The next summer he planted pinto beans and he went to the valley to sell his beans, Anastacio earned two hundred and fifty pesos he just need fifty pesos more.

Climax

A horseless wagon hit Anastacio´s wagon, Anastacio was thrown into air and hit his head against a tree. The traveler gave Anastacio fifty pesos for the accident; he finally earns his Three hundred pesos.

Resolution                    

Berta and Emilio found Anastacio dead body with the three hundred pesos and they used for a beautiful funeral.

CHARACTERS

A character is someone in a story. When you read, there are many ways that you can learn about a character. You can learn about a character by what the character says. You can learn about a character by what the character does. Sometimes, you can learn what a character is like by what the character thinks. Remember what the character looks like, that may also be important.

Anastacio is the main character of the story, He is selfish, stingy, hard working, miser, selfish, bad brother, unfeeling and a lonely man.

Berta is Anastacio´s Sister; she is respectful, thin and frail, small face clam and a peaceful person.

Emilio is Anastacio´s brother; he is a loving father of Pedro, hard working, humble, and kind.

TEACHING OF THE STORY

Doesn´t matter the things or money you have if you are not able to give others the appreciation for what you have accomplished, if you have much or little it is important to find the humility and sharing, it is useless to have enough if you can not give to others, family or friends or just to those in need, because everything is returned in this life.

COMMENT ABOUT THE STORY

I believe that history is very well written, is simple, but yet makes the reader reads the message clearly, it is important that we give without expecting anything in return, helping others is part of our lives, so it's important to be humble and gave to the others the best of ourselves, it not depends of our money, depends of our heart.