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Chapter 18
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Summer of the Mariposas, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Sisterhood, Motherhood, and Family
Magic, Myth, and Deception
Gender Dynamics and Female Solidarity
Kindness, Mercy, and Morality
Ancestral and Cultural Appreciation
Summary
Analysis
Odilia’s intuition tells her to be suspicious of Papá. Suddenly, the twins’ bedroom door opens and two blonde girls (Alison and Ashley) emerge carrying a large plastic bag. They call Papá “Daddy” and complain about the stuff in their room. Papá calls for someone named Sarai, and a blonde woman emerges from Juanita’s room. She clings to Papá and urges him to tell the girls what is going on. Odilia understands: Papá has been having an affair with this woman, and has brought her to their house. Papá insists this is not the time for explanations, clearly frustrated with how things are unfolding.
The appearance of Sarai, Alison, and Ashley confirm Odilia’s distrust of Papá. Rather than feeling satisfied that she was right, the revelation of Papá’s long deception is emotionally devastating. Odilia now understands why Mamá was so upset when he referred to La Sirena as “the woman who wants to take your Papá away,” and realizes that he has let Sarai do just that: take him away from his family. On top of this betrayal, Papá lets his replacement family invade the Garzas’ home, and he still tries to keep his plans a secret from his daughters. His deception is shameless and self-serving—he only wants to get his way without considering how his behavior affects the daughters who have longed for his return.
Themes
The blonde sisters claim to be cleaning their room. Delia and Velia realize the plastic bag is full of their things and fly into a rage. Alison and Ashley claim the house is theirs now, and that it stinks. The twins attack the invading sisters until Papá pulls them off and Mamá forces them to apologize. Papá tells the twins that Alison and Ashley are part of their family now, so they cannot mistreat them. They will be his stepdaughters once the divorce is finalized. Odilia is shocked by the callousness of this declaration, realizing Abuelita was right: her father wants a new life with a new family.
Sarai, Alison, and Ashley’s remorseless invasion of the Garza household parallels the suitors who take over Odysseus’s home in the Odyssey. Papá’s most recent declarations of unconditional love for the cinco hermanitas ring hollow in the wake of his obvious attempt to replace them. His claim that he will never again tear their family apart is a bold-faced lie, as he intends to divorce Mamá and begin life with his new family. Again, he spares no thought for the girls’ feelings when he says this, showing how little he values their happiness.
Themes
Papá declares that Alison and Ashley and Sarai will all live in the house with the girls. Odilia asks where Mamá will live, and Papá implies that she will have to leave. Facing his daughters’ outrage, he declares that he is the “man of this house” and says Mamá should be ashamed of herself for her parenting. Odilia retorts that he is the one who should be ashamed, acting like he has any right to their home after failing to prioritize their family. She will not let him get rid of Mamá. Odilia and her sisters demand that Papá do what he does best and leave.
In this moment, Papá reveals his true, monstrous self: he only cares about getting what he wants, thinking he can merge his two families with no consequence. His accusation that Mamá is a bad parent is particularly outrageous, given that he abandoned the Garza sisters for an entire year. His assertion that he has the final say as the “man of the house” fails to convince his daughters. By now, they are well-acquainted with how self-important men can make the women around them suffer, and they reject his logic, choosing themselves and Mamá instead. Papá has not broken their family—his betrayal has revealed who the sisters can count on and has strengthened those bonds.
Themes
Mamá tells Papá the girls have every right to be mad at him. Again, the sisters demand that he leave. Despite Sarai’s protests that the house is theirs, Papá relents. He asks who will provide for them—an ironic question, since he has not sent them anything for a year—and Odilia replies that the Virgen will take care of them like she has been doing for so long. Sarai shoves Juanita as she leaves, and Mamá returns the blow, knocking the woman to the floor. Papá threatens Mamá with a lawyer, but Mamá has already filed for custody and the house belongs to her. Papá leaves, and Odilia knows that he will not be back.
That Mamá lets her daughters make their own decision about Papá before getting involved shows that she has their best interests at heart—unlike Papá, who only tries to force them to go along with his plan. Sarai’s protests reveal that Papá has deceived her as well, promising the house when he has no legal claim over it. Odilia’s proclamation that the Virgen will provide for them again acknowledges Tonantzin and Mamá’s maternal care as all she and her sisters need to remain a family. Papá has nothing to offer them anymore, and together they have transformed into an even stronger family unit.
Themes
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