Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna

In Dobbs’s story, Petra’s “black rock” serves as a symbol of her character arc as she moves from associating it with the person she wants to be to recognizing in it the person she actually is. Throughout the novel, Petra makes reference to her most prized possession, a piece of coal her Papá gifted to her on her birthday two years prior—“the only thing [she] ha[s] left from [him]” (27). Functioning in the same way a teddy bear to a small child, Petra is always careful to ensure that the rock is in her possession, tucked away safely in her bag at all times. When Petra’s family home is burned down by the Federales early in the novel, Petra forgets to pack her rock in the rush to evacuate and get her family to safety. That she rushes back “into the burning hut,” without hesitation indicates that the rock is valuable enough for her to risk her life in order to retrieve it (27). Later, when Abuelita worries about “[Petra’s] watering eyes,” Petra, rock in hand, reassures her that “[she’s] better now” (27).

Petra sees the object as “more than a black rock,” but instead “a baby diamond” (44). Thinking back to her father’s encouragement that she would one day “grow up to shine like a diamond” emphasizes the fact that the rock serves as a kind of talisman for Petra against despair and discouragement, reminding her of her loving parent and giving her the strength she needs to push onward (44). More than anything, the black rock serves as a reminder of her father’s love and persistence, qualities that Petra desires to emulate herself. The rock’s rough edges “remind[d] [her] of Papá’s hands and how hard he’d worked at the mine,” and that “he was working just as hard now to get back to [them]” (73).

When Petra and her family are safely across the border, she examines the rock again, noticing all the new ridges and grooves it has inherited from the tough journey. Seeing all its new scratches and indentations makes Petra realize that “[she] too ha[s] new marks” (153). By the end of the novel, instead of only identifying the rock with the things she hopes to be, Petra learns to see in her talisman the things she has already achieved. Examining her rock in this way enables Petra to understand that her journey through the Revolution has “marked me with sorrow and despair, but also with strength” (153). Not only is the rock an item of sentimental value that gives Petra the strength she needs to carry on, but the comfort it provides has enabled her to grow in tandem with all she has suffered.

The tenacity with which Petra clings to her goal of learning to read and write symbolizes the strength of character that propels her forward despite the many harrowing challenges she and her family face on their journey. From the outset of the novel, Dobbs overtly states Petra’s dream “to go to school and learn to read” (3). Petra regards the day that a teacher was sent to her village to teach all the children to read and write as “the happiest day of [her] life” (4). Though Petra is devasted when the teacher is forced to leave only days later on account of the Revolution, her dream of “learning to read live[s] on” (4).

Early on in her journey, Petra begins to lose hope that she will ever be able to see her dreams come true. Between trying to feed and house her now unhoused family and avoid the Federales, Petra feels that her dreams of learning to read and write are drawing “further away each day” (14). Abuelita’s disapproval of Petra’s desire to receive an education makes Petra feel even more discouraged. Abuelita believes that “wanting to learn to read is a big dream, and big dreams are dangerous” (51). Though Petra is accustomed to her grandmother’s traditional perspective, it “anger[s her] that […] people like Abuelita […] simply accept” their fate rather than working to change or challenge it, by dreaming big (52). Though she is hurt by Abuelita’s comments, Petra does not allow them to dim her resolve, suggesting that no matter how difficult the journey may be, Petra intends to see her vision through.

Toward the end of the novel, Petra promises herself that “I would go to school one day, no matter what” (143). Her vow to “fight for this promise as much as I’d fought to keep Papá’s” highlights that this dream is deeply meaningful to her (143). Even more, that this promise comes at a moment of complete defeat—no food, no money, and seemingly slim chances of getting past the gates at the border—is indicative of the fact that this dream is more than just a dream, but rather an ultimate goal that has sustained and buoyed Petra throughout all of her hardships. For Petra to consistently keep the dream alive—no matter how farfetched it may seem—is to keep herself alive.