payment page
My mother was not a woman of the llano, she was the daughter of a farmer. She could not see beauty in the llano and she could not understand the coarse men who lived half their lifetimes on horseback.
This quotation comes from Chapter 1, as Antonio first describes María. As a complete contrast to Gabriel, who values freedom, independence, and wild nature, María sees beauty in cultivation and civilization. Furthermore, she looks down on the llano way of life because its independence and lack of structure seems dangerous or even blasphemous. A major source of conflict between her and Gabriel is her inability to see any value in the llano. Additionally, the weight of her disapproval proves difficult for Antonio because it means he’s worried that part of him will disappoint her.
“You are to bring honor to your family,” my mother cautioned. “Do nothing that will bring disrespect on our good name.”
María gives this instruction to Antonio when he leaves for school for the first time. María highly values the community surrounding her, which means she cares not only about her neighbors but also about what her neighbors think. She worries about adhering to social norms and how acting otherwise might affect the family’s reputation. We see this philosophy in action in how she expects the family to greet Ultima with perfect politeness, and again here, when Antonio goes to school, entering the world alone for the first time.
“It is worthless! Look how hard we worked on the garden all summer, and for what? Two baskets of chile and one of corn! Bah!” “There is freedom here.” “Try putting that in the lunch pails of your children!”
María makes this argument to Gabriel in Chapter 6, when Gabriel reminisces about how he didn’t require school for education because he learned from the llano. While Gabriel romanticizes the freedom of the llano, María points out that the soil isn’t good for agriculture, meaning that she cannot use it to feed her family. While Gabriel lives in romanticized dreams, María is extremely pragmatic because she takes responsibility for the whole family. This moment explains some of why María is so negative about the llano and hints at the great responsibility she feels.
Then in the middle of her cooking my mother sat and cried, and we all stood by quietly. She cried for a long time, and no one, not even Ultima, made a move to touch her. Her body heaved with choking sobs. She needed to cry.
This quotation comes from Chapter 7, when María learns that Andrew, Eugene, and León are returning home from the war. While her first reaction (besides praying) is to cook and make sure there is celebratory food for her sons, she soon breaks down. In this moment of emotional vulnerability, we see how much weight María carries on her shoulders. While previously her frantic prayers may have seemed overbearing, it’s now clear that they serve an important emotional purpose. Much of Maria’s high-strung nature comes from her deep love for her family.
“Ah, such intelligence,” she beamed when I finished stuttering through the Hail Mary in English, “a true man of learning!” And she kissed my head and gave me some empanaditas she had saved from Christmas day.
María has this praise for Antonio in Chapter 15 as he practices his catechism in preparation for confirmation. While María can be sometimes overbearing with her dreams for Antonio, this sweet moment shows the genuine pride she has in him. She cannot speak English herself, but she still is curious about and proud of his progress. She rewards him with delicious food, further encouraging his studies.
