What Role Does Violence Play In 'Buried Onions'?

2025-06-16 21:58:27 201

3 Answers

Stella
Stella
2025-06-20 04:52:48
Soto uses violence in 'Buried Onions' like a mirror—it reflects the fractures in Eddie’s community. The fights aren’t senseless; they’re symptoms of deeper issues: lack of opportunities, racial tensions, and generational trauma. Eddie’s avoidance of gang life isn’t heroism; it’s survival instinct. The novel’s power comes from its honesty—violence isn’t a plot device but a daily reality. Even nature feels violent; the scorching Fresno sun becomes another antagonist.

The most striking aspect is how violence erodes hope. Eddie’s fleeting moments of joy—like his bond with Mr. Stiles—are overshadowed by the next crisis. The onion metaphor isn’t just about sadness; it’s about layers of resilience built under constant threat. Soto doesn’t romanticize Eddie’s choices. When he considers stealing or joining a crew, it’s framed as a logical response to environmental violence, not moral failure. The book’s brilliance lies in making readers understand, not judge, why violence persists in these cycles.
Andrea
Andrea
2025-06-20 18:57:17
Violence in 'Buried Onions' isn't just background noise—it's the air the characters breathe. Eddie’s world is shaped by it, from gang fights to police brutality. Every corner of Fresno feels like a trap, where survival means either dishing out violence or enduring it. The book doesn’t glorify it; instead, it shows how cyclical and inescapable it is. Eddie’s cousin’s death, the constant threat of gangs, even the way poverty fuels desperation—all of it ties back to violence as a language. It’s not about action scenes; it’s about the weight of living in a place where violence is the default currency.
Evelyn
Evelyn
2025-06-21 02:58:20
In 'Buried Onions', violence functions like a character itself, silent but omnipresent. The novel paints Fresno as a pressure cooker where tensions explode into physical confrontations, but Soto’s genius lies in showing the quieter, systemic violence too. Eddie’s struggles with unemployment, the way his community is policed, even the metaphorical 'onions' (tears buried under layers of hardship)—they all stem from structural violence. Gangs aren’t just villains here; they’re products of a broken system. The book’s rawest moments come when Eddie confronts the futility of escape. His job mowing lawns contrasts starkly with the chaos around him, highlighting how economic violence underpins the physical. Soto doesn’t offer solutions; he forces readers to sit with the discomfort of a world where violence isn’t an anomaly but the norm.

What’s haunting is how violence becomes inherited. Eddie’s father’s death in a fight, the legacy of gang affiliations—it’s a chain he’s desperate to break. The novel’s sparse prose mirrors the numbness violence breeds. Unlike flashy crime stories, 'Buried Onions' makes you feel the exhaustion of constant vigilance, where even a walk home can turn deadly. The absence of dramatic showdowns makes the violence more impactful; it’s the mundane, inevitable kind that wears you down.
View All Answers
Scan code to download App

Related Books

Role Play (English)
Role Play (English)
Sofia Lorie Andres is a 22-year-old former volleyball player who left behind everything because of her unrequited love. She turned her back on everyone to forget the pain and embarrassment she felt because of a woman she loved so much even though she was only considered a best friend. None other than Kristine Aragon, a 23-year-old famous volleyball player in the Philippines. Her best friend caused her heart to beat but was later destroyed. All Sofia Lorie knew Kristine was the only one who caused it all. She is the root cause of why there is a rift between the two of them. Sofia thought about everything they talked about can easily be handled by her, but failed. Because everything she thought was wrong. After two years of her healing process, she also thought of returning to the Philippines and facing everything she left behind. She was ready for what would happen to her when she returned, but the truth wasn’t. Especially when she found out that the woman she once loved was involved in an accident that caused her memories to be erased. The effect was huge, but she tried not to show others how she felt after knowing everything about it. Until she got to the point where she would do the cause of her previous heartache, Role Play. Since she and Rad were determined, they did Role Play, but destiny was too playful for her. She was confused about what was happening, but only one thing came to her mind at those times. She will never do it again because, in the end, she will still be the loser. She is tired of the Role Play game, which she has lost several times. Will the day come when she will feel real love without the slightest pretense?
10
34 Chapters
Buried Scars
Buried Scars
"Oh My God, Elena this is insane" Luke squealed, shaking her. "This is soo coool." "This is not cool." "It is. Damn, you can tell when people are saying the truth or not," he said, Elena arching an eyebrow. "It's not cool to know when people are lying. I mean we are humans, let's all lie when we want to. I don't want to be some stupid human truth detector." Elena Harper has just one wish- to graduate high school as a regular teen. Attends a private school, get good grades in all subjects except from maths, has two amazing best friends, has a crush on one of the most popular guys in school...and lives at an orphanage. When she wakes up one morning able to detect when a lie is told, her dream to live as a normal teen seems impossible as she now has to live with the fact that she had become a human lie detector. Through her newly found powers, she figures out that everything around her, including her best friend's name is a lie.
10
33 Chapters
Buried and Forgotten
Buried and Forgotten
I secretly married my husband for six years, and then his first love came back. I decide to leave with my child and let his first love take her rightful place.
21 Chapters
Buried in His Shadow
Buried in His Shadow
My brother, Theo Sorento, died in a plane crash on his way back home just to celebrate my birthday. They never found his body—only wreckage. Ever since, my parents forced me to kneel in front of his grave every year on my birthday, demanding that I repent for surviving when he didn’t. Then came my eighteenth birthday. I realized someone was following me. Panicked, I sent a few messages asking for help. Just then, Mom called, not to check on me but to lash out. “I know exactly what you're doing. You’re just making up excuses so you don’t have to kneel in front of your brother’s grave! You’re a liar. Why wasn’t it you who died instead of him? You’re a walking curse!” Before my phone was smashed under a boot, the last thing I heard was the cold click of her hanging up. Then, I was cut up into pieces, and what was left of me was tossed across the city. My father, the lead forensic pathologist on my case, didn’t even recognize me. Later, Theo returned alive with his wife, whom he had eloped with eight years ago. When they found out the pile of rotting flesh was me, they all went insane.
10 Chapters
The Bond We Buried
The Bond We Buried
I was born the Beta’s only child—raised like a son, trained like a soldier, and expected to protect my family’s legacy. I never asked to be anyone’s mate. Especially not his. Alpha Ethan Alaric is powerful, ruthless, and used to obedience. When his pack threatens to strip my father of his rank, Ethan offers a solution: me, as his Luna. A political match. A bond of duty. But I’m not a prize to be claimed. He remembers me as the girl who once beat him in a childhood spar. I remember him as the boy who never forgave me for it. Now, he wants me by his side—whether I want it or not. We clash like fire and ice. He wants control. I crave freedom. But the mate bond doesn’t care what we want. As I fight to keep my heart guarded, I uncover secrets buried in the shadows—whispers of a hidden heir, a crippled child cast aside, and an alliance built on more than just blood and power. To protect my father, I must step into the fire. To survive, I may have to let the Alpha burn.
Not enough ratings
14 Chapters
The DESIRE Play
The DESIRE Play
" So you like him huh?" He said out of blue . I gave him a confused look not understanding what he was talking about . " Sorry Mr.Jason . I'm not quite sure what you are talking about " I said, taking a few steps backwards. "Acting innocent , aren't we?" He said fiercely. "I- I--uhhh" I hesitated taking steps backwards as he was walking towards me . "You what Amy?" His eyes got dark and wide . Raising his eyebrows he leaned against me . Instantly started kissing me roughly and lustful. I tried to push him away . But he grabbed my wrist so hard . I let out a little scream with pain and panic. "Please..please stop" until now my eyes filled with warm and fearful tears . *************************** Amelia Harper, a 18 years old girl . In her senior year of high school , she got into trouble with her new substitute teacher . What will she do now ? Will she fall for him? If she did, would he love her back? Can a teacher and student be a thing ??
10
66 Chapters

Related Questions

What Is The Significance Of Onions In 'Buried Onions'?

3 Answers2025-06-16 11:37:10
In 'Buried Onions', onions are this gritty metaphor for pain and struggle that just won't quit. Every time Eddie sees them—whether rotting in the streets or making his eyes water—it's like Fresno's hardships are staring him down. They represent the cycle of poverty and violence that keeps dragging people under. What hits hardest is how they're 'buried' but never gone, just like the trauma in these characters' lives. Even the way they make you cry mirrors how survival in this neighborhood forces toughness through tears. Soto uses something as simple as an onion to show how deeply rooted suffering can be in a place where hope keeps getting dug up and replanted.

How Does Eddie Cope With Loss In 'Buried Onions'?

3 Answers2025-06-16 17:10:43
Eddie's way of dealing with loss in 'Buried Onions' is raw and real. He doesn’t have some grand strategy—just survival. The streets don’t give him time to grieve properly, so he numbs himself with distractions. Sometimes it’s odd jobs, other times it’s just walking, trying to outpace the ghosts. You see him wrestling with anger more than sadness, like when his cousin Jesús dies. Eddie doesn’t cry; he clenches his fists, drinks cheap beer, and lets the heat of Fresno bake his frustration away. The onion metaphor sticks—loss layers up, stinging his eyes until he can’t see straight. But there’s a quiet resilience too. He doesn’t talk about healing, yet small acts—like tending to Mr. Stiles’ lawn—show he’s grasping for something stable in a world where everything rots.

Is 'Buried Onions' Based On A True Story?

3 Answers2025-06-16 01:46:48
I've read 'Buried Onions' multiple times, and while it feels incredibly raw and real, it's not a direct true story. Gary Soto crafted it as fiction, but he pulled from his own experiences growing up in Fresno’s Mexican-American neighborhoods. The poverty, the gang violence, the struggle to escape—it all rings true because Soto lived through similar hardships. The protagonist Eddie’s despair feels authentic because Soto understands that world intimately. The novel doesn’t follow a specific real-life event, but it captures the essence of countless untold stories from marginalized communities. If you want something with a similar vibe but nonfiction, check out Luis Rodriguez’s 'Always Running'—it’s a memoir about gang life that hits just as hard.

Why Is 'Buried Onions' Considered A Chicano Literature Classic?

3 Answers2025-06-16 22:00:01
I've always been drawn to 'Buried Onions' because it captures the raw, unfiltered reality of Chicano life in Fresno with brutal honesty. Gary Soto doesn’t sugarcoat anything—Eddie’s struggles with poverty, violence, and systemic oppression hit like a punch to the gut. The book’s strength lies in its authenticity; the Spanglish dialogue, the barrio’s rhythm, and the constant tension between hope and despair feel lived-in. It’s a classic because it gives voice to a community often ignored in mainstream literature, showing their resilience without romanticizing their suffering. The onion metaphor—layers of pain buried but never forgotten—sticks with you long after the last page. If you want to understand Chicano culture beyond stereotypes, this is essential reading. Check out Soto’s 'Living Up the Street' for more of his sharp, poetic storytelling.

How Does 'Buried Onions' Depict Life In Fresno'S Barrio?

3 Answers2025-06-16 22:31:21
Gary Soto's 'Buried Onions' paints a raw, unfiltered picture of life in Fresno's barrio through the eyes of Eddie, a young Mexican-American struggling to survive. The streets are brutal—gang violence lurks around every corner, poverty is suffocating, and opportunities feel like mirages. Eddie's world is one where onions buried in the ground symbolize hidden tears and unspoken pain. The heat is oppressive, mirroring the constant pressure to escape a cycle of despair. Jobs are scarce, and even when they exist, they pay barely enough to scrape by. The barrio isn't just a setting; it’s a character itself, shaping lives with its harsh realities. Families try to hold together, but the weight of systemic neglect and cultural dislocation is heavy. Soto doesn’t romanticize anything; he shows the grit, the exhaustion, and the fleeting moments of hope that keep people going.

What Are The Onions Symbolic Of In 'Holes'?

2 Answers2025-06-21 19:15:39
In 'Holes', onions carry deep symbolic weight that ties into the novel's themes of resilience and hidden goodness. The most obvious connection is how Stanley and Zero survive on onions in the desert, showing how something simple can sustain life in harsh conditions. Onions also represent layers of truth - just like peeling an onion reveals more layers, the characters uncover hidden aspects of themselves and Camp Green Lake's history as the story progresses. The onions growing in what was once a deadly desert symbolize unexpected hope and regeneration, mirroring how the boys transform their cursed situation into something positive. What's fascinating is how onions connect multiple storylines across time. The onions Kate Barlow ate that kept her alive echo centuries later when Stanley and Zero find them. This creates this beautiful continuity between past and present, showing how small acts of survival ripple through generations. The onions' medicinal properties also symbolize healing - both physical healing for Zero and emotional healing for Stanley as they bond over their shared struggle. Sachar uses this humble vegetable to show how the most ordinary things can have extraordinary significance when viewed through the lens of perseverance and human connection.

Who Dies In 'Buried Child' And Why?

3 Answers2025-06-16 17:50:37
In 'Buried Child', the deaths hit hard because they reveal the family's dark secrets. Dodge, the patriarch, dies from illness and neglect, symbolizing the rot at the family's core. His grandson Vince doesn't kill him directly, but the family's indifference speeds up his demise. The real shocker is the buried child itself—a baby killed by Dodge and Halie years ago because it was the product of an incestuous relationship between Halie and their son Tilden. This murder haunts the family, making their farm a literal graveyard of secrets. The play doesn't show the baby's death, but its discovery forces the characters to face their guilt.

How Does 'Buried Child' End?

3 Answers2025-06-16 01:12:49
The ending of 'Buried Child' hits like a sledgehammer. After layers of family secrets unravel, Vince finally snaps when his grandfather Dodge dies. In a surreal twist, he carries Dodge's corpse upstairs while Halie babbles about rain and fertility. The buried child's skeleton is revealed in the backyard, confirming the dark secret that haunted the family. Shelly, the only outsider, flees in horror, realizing this family is beyond saving. Tilden cradles the dead child's bones, murmuring about corn, symbolizing the cycle of decay. It's not a clean resolution—just a brutal unveiling of rot festering beneath American family values.
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status