Comment on the title

The title of the short story “With His Own Two Hands” by Albert Garcia represents an expression (a phrase) used to suggest pride in doing or achieving something by oneself, through personal effort.

The title is closely linked to the story. It refers to the narrator’s grandfather's pride in building his own house and, implicitly, in making an enjoyable life for himself and his family in the United States. In the story, the grandfather—who is Mexican- is described telling the narrator several times that he built his house with his own hands: “ ‘Con mis propias manos hice esta casa y el cerco,’ he would say with his hands extended in front of him.” (ll. 4-5); “ ‘Con mis propias manos hice esta casa y el cerco. Con mis propias manos,’ he would say as he held his hands out to me.” (ll. 79-81)

The repetition is used to show the man’s pride for having...