The thematic purpose and message of ˜The Moths by Helena Maria Viramontes

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The thematic purpose and message of ‘The Moths’ by Helena Maria Viramontes
The Moths’ is a short story whose narrator is a teenage girl. The girl has a responsibility of taking care of her ailing Abuelita, grandmother. She is indifferent to her sisters since she feels she is not pretty or nice, and can only be understood by her Abuelita who she turns to. The Abuelita passes away after having followed rules of men for many years (Spontak ). Abuelita’s death is a great loss to the girl, since she was the only person who used to give her a sense of hope. The teenage girl learns useful life lessons after the moths that lived inside her Abuelita are freed upon her death.
Symbolism is apparent in the story as ‘The Moths’ is used to refer to oppression of women. The theme of oppression of women is evident in the whole story with symbols being used throughout. Symbols such as the moths, the sun, and the bird of paradise represent different aspects of life (Spontak ). Death and rebirth are represented by the sun. The teenage girl was heartbroken by the death of her grandmother. Nevertheless, she is sure of a new beginning after the death. Though the girl never felt she belonged to her family like her sister, she started longing for her mother after the Abuelita passed away.
The rules and traditions that men created for women to fol...