Morals of The Milagro Beanfield War :: Milagro Beanfield War Essays

Morals of The Milagro Beanfield War   The Milagro Beanfield War, written by John Nichols, demonstrates several themes on life. They range from the interactions of the rich and the poor to the hot desiccated farming climate in crude Mexico. All of which have significant importances in this famous novel. Perhaps the most important theme that is represented in this novel is the idea that people should do what is wright no matter the consequences. People are constantly faced with the choice of right and wrong. What they choose not just now effects themselves, but everyone else problematic. That is why being true to yourself is being true to everyone. If I am not for myself, who will be for me? Yet if I am for myself only, what am I?(p. 1). This theme carries the plot throughout the book.   Milagro is a small agricultural town located in the hot arid state of New Mexico. Joe Mondragon, a man of his mid 30s, provided for his wife and two kids. He was a farmer, but a farmer wit h no fields. During the 1935 Interstate Water Compact, much of the piddle was transferred to big-time farmers fields, like Ladd Devine. This would not have been a problem except for the fact that Joes field was located on the west side of Milagro and all of the water flowed to the sou-east side. All of the people of Milagro were unhappy about this change, but no one would say or do anything that would oppose the Devines. One daytime, Joe had had enough and tapped into the water supply. He knew that watering his fathers field would cause problems, but he didnt care. Day after day Joe worked in his fields, preparing them for harvest. People from all the town gathered each day to watch Joe work. While Joe worked on his fields, the Devines worked on a plan to get rid of him. They did not like the idea that Joe Mondragon, a simple farmer, had not conformed to their ways. The Devines involved several various people in order to get rid of Joe, but all of these people could not stop Joe f rom obeying his morals. Bernabe Montoya, the Milagro town sheriff, and Sheriff Kyril Montana, a administration officer, were assigned the duty of arresting Joe. They worked hard and diligently to arrest him, but time after time, they failed.