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Chapter 17
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Farming of Bones, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Power of Memory
Dreams vs. Reality
Language and Identity
Death, Grief, and Hope
Home, Family, and Belonging
Summary
Analysis
Soon after Rafael’s death, the birthday party planned for Doña Eva becomes his “unofficial wake.” Amabelle notices that there is “a stillness” in Señora Valencia’s eyes, as if she has experienced the “shadow of a lost dream.” It is also clear to Amabelle that Señor Pico wishes to be with his son and hold him in his arms before he must place him in his coffin. Doña Eva, watching the Señor’s face, comments that he and his wife are “very brave.”
The look in Señora Valencia’s eyes reveals the effect that her son’s death has had on her: her son’s passing has forced her to confront a future without him, and she is grief-stricken. His death was so sudden and unexpected that his short life was almost like a dream, as if he never truly existed. Amabelle’s observation here again underscores the fine line between dreams and reality.
Themes
Don Ignacio turns on the radio, which interrupts the party abruptly. The broadcast features a song by “La Orquesta Presidente Trujillo,” and is then followed by “three long patriotic songs” and parts of speeches once given by Trujillo. Señor Pico quiets everyone in the room and then turns up the radio’s volume, as if he is “seeking comfort” for his “personal loss.”
The radio’s program of political speeches and patriotic music is a sudden shift in the emotional tenor of the gathering. The radio’s presence reveals how cultural matters are always in the background of Dominican society, even in apolitical situations. The señor’s insistence on listening to the radio illustrates how strongly he values identity and cultural heritage: even in the midst of his own son’s wake, he is fixated on the idea of patriotism and Dominican politics.
Themes
The broadcast continues, and Trujillo’s voice sounds “charged with certainty and fervor.” Hearing his words, Señor Pico stands at attention, as if he is ready to “charge across a field of battle.” Many of the partygoers nod their heads “in agreement” as the Generalissimo declares he will fight for his people. After the broadcast ends, the guests disperse, leaving the señor, señora, and their household staff behind.
Despite the tragic setting, Señor Pico is so moved by the words of his country’s leader that his entire demeanor changes. The other members of the party also react to the patriotism and nationalism conveyed by the radio’s program. In doing so, they reveal that they, like the señor, prioritize their country’s nationalism and cultural identity over all else, including their feelings of grief and loss.
Themes
Señor Pico tries to comfort Señora Valencia while she sobs, but is unable to truly help her. Amabelle, who sees this unfold, believes that the marriage is doomed, as the pair does not comfort each other well enough. Furthermore, they have become “the parents of a dead child,” a “test” of their bond that neither of them anticipated. The señora asks her husband to bury her son’s clothes before they bury his body; he agrees, and then tells her he will soon be leaving for the border to participate in the operation.
This interaction between Señora Valencia and Señor Pico reveals how their lives have changed as a result of their son’s death. They are no longer newlyweds, or new parents, but parents who have lost their son. As such, they are forced to readjust their relationship to deal with their grief. The señor seems to cope with grief by repressing it: he is quick to jump back into his political affairs. This further reaffirms how he prioritizes his country over his sense of loss.
Themes
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