The Mother Cat
The mother cat that haunts Yolanda’s dreams symbolizes
her home, the Dominican Republic, which reproaches her for leaving.
The violation the cat suffers in losing its kitten represents the
pain of a country that has lost its children, who cannot find their
way home again. Yolanda is unable to find her roots when she returns
home in the first chapter, representing the culmination of her search
to reclaim what was lost when her family left the Dominican Republic.
The Black Bird
The black bird that emerges from Yolanda’s throat and
attacks Dr. Payne symbolizes her fears that language, specifically
her own words, could hurt the people she cares about. Her affection
for and attraction to Dr. Payne is threatened by the aggressive
and ugly words that could come out of her mouth. The bird freely
moves from the room through the window screen, just as Yolanda might
be able to freely speak her own mind if she were able to stop misquoting
others and truly express her love and desires.
Guavas
The guavas Yolanda craves when she arrives on the Island
symbolize her desires to reconnect to the best memories of her childhood. She
hopes the taste of the guavas will take her back to a vivid experience
from the past. Instead, the outing highlights how culturally unprepared
she is to pass as a Dominican woman, and how culturally American
she has become as an adult.
Snow
Snow symbolizes hope for the future and the positive aspects
of the American dream, as well as the terrifying potential of the
unknown. Yolanda’s first experience of snow makes her think of atomic
fallout, and she terrifies her class with a warning of imminent
doom. Once she realizes her mistake, the snow comes to symbolize
the culmination of her long-held hope to experience a mysterious
and wondrous occurrence she has only heard about. The unique nature
of each snowflake also symbolizes the possibilities that America
offers Yolanda to explore her identity and express a new voice.
