Introduction
The main theme in this story is all about adaptation to an environment. The question requires that we discuss the two situations, where this woman leaves Villa Hermosa, which is a government upgraded slum with improved living conditions, or she goes back to her former environment which is purely slum. In discussing this, we are giving supportive arguments. There is no contradiction here. Remember this is like a debate, where we have the opposes and proposes sides at the same time. In saying that Cruz should remain in Villa we are comparing the situations under which she is undergoing and she leaves. Likewise to when she leaves.
Cruz Will Remain in Villa Hermosa
Pathetic living condition
Cruz was a slum dweller who used to live in a house inhabited by not only rats but also other insects like cockroaches, from the description of the stench that comes out of it especially when she invites the social worker one can imagine the true picture of poverty. This was a great health challenge to herself and the kids. But in Villa Hermosa even though life is hard, there is generally some hygiene. This ensures that there is no outbreak of diseases associated by these insects.
Modern life
Even though Cruz is finding it difficult to cope with life here, the more she stays here the more she get as adapted to this environment. If for example she goes back then it can be very difficult for her to learn about the modern lifestyles.
Immorality
At La Esmeralda slums she had to carry out an abortion, in Villa people are ever careful especially when it comes to such affairs. Ladies are vigilant not to be pregnant when they are spending with their partners.
A learning opportunity
Life is so expensive here that survival is for the fittest i.e. the rich. Since its all about being creative Cruz can take this to be an avid opportunity for earning a living the hard way. Through struggles and hardships she becomes experienced to better face any kind of life.
Good Citizen
Since Villa Hermosa was a government creation in an attempt to reduce pressure in the slums it would be an encouragement for others if Cruz remains in Villa. The nearby slum dwellers would also feel that they should move to Villa. This will show a good citizenship.
Cruz should leave Villa Hermosa
We see a woman who has moved to an upgraded leaving environment but still she is not able to cope with the conditions of this new ecosystem. This is the reality; the scenario that is manifested here is that there are physical attributes of a person as well as in built characters. The writer of this story talks about a boundary; to me a boundary exists when a person’s in-built characters refuses to accept the external and physical condition in an environment. In this case, despite Cruz a slum woman having found an improved ecosystem her system behavior completely contradicts this environment. It would be in order to argue she goes back to La Esmeralda. There are quite a number of reasons that can support this.
Socialization
In this scenario we are finding a slum woman who was used to a free living environment, intermingle freely with friends and associate. But in Villa people lock themselves inside their houses, its difficult to meet anybody. This is likely to affect Cruz in her entire life as she does not have friend.
High cost of living
Even though the situation has radically improved the cost of life here remains extremely expensive for her. Despite the availability supermarkets that sell goods at much more affordable prices than in the slums it is difficult to come by money. Again Cruz is finding difficult in buying some of the commodities that are available for sale. These goods are specially design to meet the demands of the rich and there is no room for poor people like her here. This exposes us to the fundamental differences that exist between the rich and the poor. In this situation slum dwellers are used to cheap products no matter what quality they are in nature but the opposite is true here. It’s advisable that Cruz goes back to the slums in order to survive.
Opportunism
The rich people like taking poor people for granted. They would take advantage at your financial status and seriously misuse you for nothing. This is clearly illustrated here when the poor woman goes to the streets to look for odd jobs in order to earn her living people are misusing her and sometimes she works for no pay just to be given irrelevant rewards which are of no basis to her. This is a very common phenomenon more so in the third world countries where majority live below the poverty line. It’s therefore important for Cruz to go back to the slums where no one is rich and people love each other.
Selfishness
It’s ironical that where one may expect people to be generous the opposite is true. In the slums people may be able to share whatever they have, visit their friends and perhaps assist each other in one or two ways. In villa people are greedy and self centered, remember this poor woman working for people who are well off enough to even give her a donation but not even a single person remembers to do this. To add salt to an injury, this is a poor disabled lame woman. From the story we get to know how selfish these guys are, the writer says “the more they have the more they would want to get”. You can imagine the situation here. Even the land lords would lock you out in the event of failure to settle to the rent and utility bills in time. In an ecosystem where people are not well off, people will develop a unity and loving mentality, where they would want to know the feeling and regards of their neighborhoods.
Luxuries
Luxury and a slum are two contradicting words; the former is a behavior in a person wanting to live comfortably with so many non essential requirements for life around him or her, while a slum is a living environment with unfavorable conditions. The Villa residents live a luxurious lifestyle while in Esmeralda slums people are oblivion of their lifestyle, what they want is to earn a living and are not concerned about having a TV set or sofa sets etc. this is evidenced where the people visit Cruz criticized the presence of too much space in her house, as to where she should have put a TV and the furniture.
Conclusion
Well this argument is very interesting, from the entire story one can confidently say that it’s easy to take one out of a slum but it is difficult to remove the slum out of that person. You need to change yourselves before you actually change the environment. Incorporating the boundary concept here is that if has a rigid personality like that of Cruz to environmental changes then it’s very difficult to adapt. The personality in you will be the boundary.