Family obligation as a negative thing
Instead of showing the positive side of family, like inheritance, sacrifice, and love, this novel inverts the reader's expectations, focusing instead on the darker side of family, the propensity to abuse someone, the betrayal of confidence, and most importantly, the way family can become a tyrannical prison for those who are abused. This hopelessness is deeper than Erendira's literal situation, because it represents a deeper problem in her identity—without a familial identity in a family-oriented world, Erendira is left without roots.
The tragedy of prostitution
Prostitution is an undeniable part of this novel, sadly. The novelist illustrates one variation of a very common theme in literature, the story of the prostitute who is forced into the trade against her will, and then becomes despised for her lack of innocence. This theme is reminiscent of stories like Les Miserables, and even Homer's The Iliad, in the character of Helen of Troy.
Innocence versus experience
By focusing on the sexual victimhood of Erendira at the hands of her grandmother, the novel concentrates on the question of innocence and experience. After all, the inciting incident in Erendira's tragic collapse is an honest, innocent mistake, one made by working too hard. Afterward, her innocence is violated by man after man, but the question is still on the table—does she retain her moral innocence? This difficult question is worsened by her clever escape from her grandmother's tyranny, conspiring to murder her. The question is never explicitly stated, but the reader must wonder whether her actions are just, given the undeniable evil of her grandmother's decisions.
