The Moths is a short story by Helena Maria Viramontes, first published in 1985. The story is told from the perspective of a young Chicana girl named Estrella, who lives with her family in a small house in the barrio (Latino neighborhood) of Los Angeles.
The story begins with Estrella waking up to the sound of her mother's voice calling her name. She gets out of bed and sees that her mother is standing in the doorway, holding a jar with a moth trapped inside. Estrella's mother tells her to release the moth outside, but Estrella is hesitant and asks her mother why she is keeping the moth trapped in the jar. Her mother explains that the moth is attracted to the light, and that she is trying to protect it from flying into the light and getting hurt.
As Estrella releases the moth outside, she reflects on the nature of moths and how they are often drawn to light, even if it means endangering themselves. She thinks about how her own life has been shaped by forces beyond her control, and how she has had to adapt to the expectations and limitations placed on her as a Chicana woman.
The story then shifts to Estrella's memories of her grandfather, who used to tell her stories about the moths and their connection to the spirit world. According to her grandfather, the moths were the spirits of loved ones who had passed away, returning to visit their living relatives. Estrella's grandfather would often tell her stories about how the moths would visit him at night, bringing him messages from his deceased wife.
As Estrella releases the moth, she feels a sense of connection to her grandfather and the spirit world. She thinks about how her grandfather's stories gave her a sense of hope and comfort, and how she wants to carry on his legacy by sharing his stories with others.
The Moths is a powerful and poignant story about the connections between the living and the dead, and the ways in which our loved ones continue to influence and shape our lives long after they have passed away. Through Estrella's perspective, Viramontes explores the themes of identity, family, and the search for meaning and purpose in life.
The Moths and Other Stories Summary
Electronic items, including cell phones, do not just sit around for the next time we turn them on. DNF at 78%, I just can't go on. The characters are well drawn, the psychological suspense mounts as the action and reaction proceeds. A few clashes will influence a man 's life more than different clashes, however all arrangements require thinking behind the decisions⌠Stosny's Faulty Relationship Analysis He says that one must be sensitive to the reasons for their resentment and must be motivated to heal and improve themselves. The mystery itself was good, and though I figured some aspects of the mystery out, I hadn't figured it all out until the reveal.
Analysis of Helena MarĂa Viramontesâs Stories
See eNotes Ad-Free Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. Throughout her childhood, her father, ApĂĄ, criticized her and beat her for not conforming to his notions of what a docile girl should be and for not attending church regularly. Viramontes tells this complex story through shifting points of view to reveal different perspectives as she shows the power of oppressive governments. I'm on a reading binge, and to keep up the momentum, the books I read need to have a good pace, keep me entertained and engaged, and hook me early. And the cycle repeats. The better we feel about ourselves, the more we are able to love others. Just didn't feel it deserved more than 3 stars.
Themes And Symbols Used In âThe Mothsâ By Helena Maria Viramontes
The women exist in a world of wild lilies, jasmine, heliotrope, and cilantro, working with mayonnaise jars and coffee cans. I liked this book a lot--didn't love it unreservedly though. A decade later, Enrico has returned to the provincial town where Alice lived and died, to sell his family home. I picked this book up from Amazon Prime First read for November 2017. What do you folks do on Goodreads when you stop reading a book and never intend on finishing it? The murder touches many people, and the boyfriend of Alice moves away. However, when she became a teacher , she remains for only 6 months. I was pretty shocked by Alice, she wasn't a sympathetic character at all and her brother was a total waste-of-space as well.
Death of a Moth: Summary, Themes & Analysis
Enrico, the boyfriend of Alice, the murdered girl, returns to the town where she was murdered after 10 years to sell his old family home, as he has permanently moved to Rome. That just creates or produces hate and uncomfortability in an individual. I think that not using any dialogue in a story is sometimes difficult but, when done right, it makes for a really good piece for the reader. There were two specific things that the young girl enjoys doing with her Abuelita--cooking and helping with the plants. Knopf publishers, they praised the work, but registered concern about the pedophilic impulses of the protagonist Jack Dillon.
