"The Harvest," a short story by Mexican American writer Tomás Rivera, symbolizes the human values in the migrant farm laborers. It depicts the desire of an old farm worker, Don Trine, to transcend the difficulties of farm work. The story is symbolic of the love of the land that upholds the spirit of the worker during hardships. The author, a son of Mexican immigrants, grew up working alongside his parents as a migrant worker throughout Texas, Michigan, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Missouri. Perhaps his own experiences manifest in his narrative.

Don Trine finds solace in the company of nature. He derives a sense of warmth and comfort when he feels the earth nestle up against his skin. The suspicious, young migrant worker follows him in the hope of discovering a hidden treasure. But he returns enriched with an understanding of nature and the cycle of seasons.

Rivera's story delineates the isolation and lonliness of the migrant worker life.  These are people with little family and no sense of home.  Suspicion and fear of being abondoned cause the workers to remain isolated from each other.  Don Trine is the best example of this.  He feels alone, but he also isolates himself, not allowing them to walk with him.

The symbolism is in the actions of Don Trine.  As the young worker discovers, Trine finds comfort from submerging an arm in the warm embrace of the earth.  The earth is symbolized as a living breathing being.  The earth does not judge, however, only accepts and comforts, gives life through air, food and drink.  The young worker, like Trine, finds that connecting with this "being" provides comfort, and concludes that he should respect it more.  The message is that humans need to have contact with one another, need to come together as a community.