The Bleak Black Wind
Xuela says that she always felt the presence of a bleak black wind. This is an allegory of the loss that she felt because her mother had died. The wind was the sense of loss that Xuela carried throughout the novel.
Plate symbolized heaven
One of Ma Eunice's Prized possessions was a china plate. It had a painting of a beautiful landscape and the word heaven was written on it. To Ma Eunice, the plate symbolized the promise of heaven to her because she treasured it and wailed when it was broken.
Xuela leaving Ma Eunice's house
When Xuela physically left Ma Eunice house, it is an allegory of how she left the life and the feelings of being unloved in that place. Xuela felt that she had left behind all the baggage and loathing that she had felt at that place.
Motif of Dreams
Xuela constantly dreamt of her deceased mother. Xuela's mother had died while giving birth to her. Therefore, Xuela had never met her mother. The dreams that Xuela has are of her mother walking towards her. This motif of Dreams shows how much Xuela longed to meet her mother and her deep sense of loss for having never met her.
Xuela's mother as a symbol of hope
Xuela's mother represented hope to Xuela. This is because when Xuela dreamt of her, she saw her coming in a bright light. This was at times when Xuela felt the most alone or unloved.
