“My personal sister and i also label our mom “not-Mama.” Like in maybe not-Mama charred the fresh poultry which can be cursing from the cooking area. Not-Mama try to try out you to definitely record once again, moving by herself in the dark. Keep an eye out, not-Mama was perception disappointed to own by herself…” (pg 121).
Felicia lifetime an irregular and you can chaotic life. She marries about three different guys, certainly who she cannot consider appointment. She disappears for a while, assuming she return she informs her tale from awakening up inside a not known bed, iliar man. This might be their own second partner. Her third, she marries and very soon after eventually pushes your off an excellent rollercoaster so you’re able to his demise. She is likely to blackouts on account of their bipolar disorder, which will was in fact caused by syphilis the father from their own people offered their particular, but it’s also essential to keep in mind you to her mommy, Celia, keeps a nervous review of her very own just after Lourdes’ beginning. Unfortuitously, Felicia passes away following she output family out of their disappearance, providing the viewer the feeling you to she is never ever meant to get a hold of their unique feeling of that belong.
The guy confesses to help you leaving their soon after they were hitched to his own mother, in order to discipline their in order to have good Spanish lover just before him
Lourdes learns out-of Felicia’s dying off their particular dad, the past time she will speak with him. Felicia “is unfortunate whenever she passed away” (pg. 196), Jorge says to their unique. He and additionally informs shows you so you’re able to Lourdes as to the reasons Celia was usually therefore harsh with her right from the start. Since novel continues, it’s obvious one to past traumas are not just shared, they are passed down away from generation to generation, bound to recite on their own.
As stated, the 2 major themes into the Thinking within the Cuban is code and you can the question out-of home and that belong. How much does it mean to have a language? What does they mean for property, or even feel like you fall in somewhere? They are the questions that each and every core character in the unique query on their own, again and again.
For Celia, their particular residence is inside Cuba, in which this lady has transformed herself on the a loyal buff off Fidel Castro. She decides to stay static in Cuba, although her partner moves to your All of us. She remains, no matter if her earliest child and you can very first grandchild circulate out. To own Celia del Pino, she feels where she belongs in the Cuba, help El Lider, and you will talking their Cuban Spanish.
Jorge wants Lourdes to find out that Celia performed, in fact, love their own, it is partially their fault towards the strained relationship it features
To possess Lourdes, her house is in the usa. She finds out another type of sense of that belong in the us along with brand new English language she has followed. It is here where she actually is decided to go to by their particular dad, where she has were able to reinvent herself, in which she can go after their own private “Western Dream”. Whether or not their unique daughter doesn’t discover their, it is simply in going to The united states you to definitely she’s ready to flee the brand new thoughts out-of their own unlawful assault in which she forgotten a baby. It is only on the dozens and dozens away from gooey buns she takes so you can disfigure her own body, so you’re able to camouflage the newest markings that bequeath across their belly that she can not learn. Lourdes cannot getting at home during the Cuba, she’s got challenging ideas off pain when the woman is compelled to get back whenever Felicia becomes deceased. She mocks their particular mom’s living together with remainder of the new Cubans with chose to stay. She are unable to hold off to leave the fresh new island and you will come back to their own true home, inside Ny.