“Painting is my own personal language, I wanted to share with your. Translations merely mistake they, dilute it, such as for instance terms and conditions supposed off Foreign language so you’re able to English. I jealousy my personal mom the girl Language curses possibly. They generate my English failure for the a pile.” (pg. 59)
It passage just describes Pilar’s reference to the girl ways, but it also relates to this lady tumultuous connection with her mommy, Cuba, therefore the Spanish code.
Their professor is fundamentally sent out, to possess explanations that are still not sure, however it is suggested it stems from that have bizarre dating along with his people
Pilar and you will Lourdes try not personal. Pilar has actually a journal, which she must cover up for the lining regarding this lady winter months coating. Pilar’s record could be reported to be an echo of pseudo-record that Celia features, on paper letters so you’re able to the woman former mate. Pilar and Celia are similar, and their similarities appear more info on due to the fact book happens for the. This can be one other reason as to the reasons Lourdes and you will Pilar are continually butting thoughts. When Celia gave birth so you can Lourdes, this woman is cited because the passing the child to Jorge and you can saying “I won’t think about the woman title” (pg 43). Lourdes knows it tale, plus in a method demonstrates to you reasons why she clings in order to their dad and denies this lady mom.
Lourdes’s connection with Celia was challenging
One-day Lourdes finds out Pilar’s diary and you will finds out you to their girl has started coming in contact with herself from the bath, a normal course of action through the adolescence. No matter if Lourdes certainly possess an issue with gender one to their girl knows, she berates the woman because of it, hitting the lady and you will contacting their a slut. Here seems to be a steady competition anywhere between Pilar and you can Lourdes; Lourdes problems is eliminate Cuba, if you are Pilar needs to go back in fact it is believing that she’ll see by herself in the event the she actually is reunited with her grandmother indeed there.
Pilar spends her decorate to speak with folks, it’s in this typical you to she seems the most including by herself, in which she feels she will be able to be the ideal realized. Lourdes is uninterested in what Pilar creates. She will not understand the abstract characteristics off the lady sketches. A vicious cycle is established, because the Pilar cannot can keep in touch with her mommy, and you may Lourdes doesn’t know how to correspond with the lady daughter. A love between a father or mother and you can girl is generally understood because the are certainly one of insights and you can mercy. They consists of perception safer, or a feeling of that belong. Amazingly, Pilar cannot become so it having Lourdes, and you can Lourdes cannot be that it that have Celia. So it brings up some other theme that is omnipresent into the Thinking inside Cuban, issue off house and you may belonging.
Eventually, you have the profile of Felicia, and her three people: Ivantino, and her twins Luz and you will Milagro. Felicia has actually a very close, yet unhealthy experience of the girl youngsters. She dotes toward Ivanito, and is isolated throughout the twins. Luz and you can Milagro possess memory of their dad that Ivanito does perhaps not show. To possess Ivanito, his father abandoned him as well as the remaining family unit members, however he doesn’t appreciate this or just how. Luz and Milagro remember its mommy mode your unstoppable that day and you will exiling him using their home. Felicia could well be said to be the quintessential erratic of the del Pino household members, suffering from exactly what appears to be bipolar disorder. This lady has extreme good and the bad; she has times just like the a loving mother, handling her pupils. That is overshadowed by her moments out of madness, and you will an occurrence in which she tries to kill by herself and you may Ivanito.
When Ivanito is distributed to school, he grows an interest in reading brand new languages, specifically Russian, and also have a little bit of English. The guy increases a love together with Russian professor, hence similar to the you to definitely with his mother, is seen as incorrect about attention from their friends and you 
may his school.