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Chapter 3
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 puts La Llorona’s ear pendant in her ear, which catches Juanita’s interest. Odilia blows off her questions about it, and Juanita moves on to helping the other girls position the dead man in the backseat. Odilia’s sisters run through a checklist of items; they are prepared. They talk about the journey as a mission whose success depends upon their cooperation and teamwork. Juanita acknowledges that they are technically committing the crime of improper disposal of a dead body, but rallies her sisters around their signature motto: “The Garza Girls! Together forever! No matter what!” Odilia cannot help but join in the group hug, and she momentarily believes in her sisters’ foolhardy plan.
The girls’ preparedness and their understanding that the plan hinges on their cooperation surprises Odilia; it seems like each of her sisters understand the significance of this journey without having spoken to La Llorona. Despite their past disagreements, all the sisters in this moment desire unity, which is—in itself—a kind of harmony.
Themes
The girls pile into the car and head for the border with Odilia driving. She asks the others if she looks silly wearing only one earring, only to find that a second has appeared, completing the set. They pull up to the tollbooth and pay the officer on duty, who hardly looks at them. For a long moment, Odilia considers telling the man that there is a dead man in the backseat. A breeze blows some butterflies into the car, and they alight on Pita’s young face. Odilia realizes that Child Protective Services will be called if they are caught, and Mamá could get into trouble.
The appearance of a second ear pendant confirms the presence of magic. At the toll booth, Odilia is torn between protecting her sisters and supporting them, as if the unity she professed in the last scene is being tested. The appearance of the mariposas, which draws her attention to Pita, seems serendipitous, pushing her toward the decision to drive through to Mexico. The butterflies’ evolving association with transformation and ancestors makes it likely that, in this moment, they were encouraging Odilia to follow the path to her own metamorphosis.
Themes
Lingering in line draws the officer’s suspicion. Odilia panics and spins the ear pendant, invoking the Aztec goddess Tonantzin for protection as La Llorona instructed. The officer seems hypnotized by the jewelry, and lets the girls through without further questioning. The officer on the Mexican side leers at the girls and asks where they are going. Odilia’s sisters chime in, lying but going into a suspicious amount of detail. Odilia silences them with a glance. The officer lets them through, and they drive into Piedras Negras, whooping with celebration. Odilia warns them that there is still a long way to go.
The Aztec goddess Tonantzin represents maternal love and protection. That Odilia’s invocation works, hypnotizing the guard, affirms La Llorona’s claims that they have been chosen for this task. Though this first step of the quest is successful, the moment Odilia’s sisters explain too much suggests that the ear pendant cannot get them out of every spot of trouble.
Themes
