Worker in the Cane Reflection

Worker in the Cane is both a profound social document and a moving spiritual testimony. Don Taso portrays his harsh childhood, his courtship and early marriage, his grim struggle to provide for his family. He tells of his radical political beliefs and union activity during the Depression and describes his hardships when he was blacklisted because of his outspoken convictions. Disturbed by his continuing poverty and by a serious illness, he undergoes a dramatic cure and becomes converted to a Protestant . In the concluding chapters the author interprets Don Taso's experience in the light of the changing patterns of life in rural Puerto Rico.

In Sidney Mintz writing we see that life as a cane worker was not easy at all. The family life was described in detail when they talked about how after lunch the husbands will pick up their machetes once again and go back to work while thier wives are at home washing the clothes. The Children were always dressed and ready before the father came back home from a grueling day at work. The village was ful of surprises , tuesdays were lottery days and the coqui was singing most of the night time.