“There was the whole world; if she loved him like this, nothing could make them wretched; his love would be enough for her, - and for him hers was an empire.”
At its core, the story is essentially a romance since it charts Ramona’s love life from Alessandro to Felipe. The statement refers to the love between Alessandro and Ramona, expressing their deep connection through everything even after Alessandro’s eventual death. Their love is forbidden by her family since Alessandro is of full-blood Native American thus they choose to elope to seek a happier life. The prejudice and racism they face for being of Native American descent does not break them but make their bond much stronger. Even after Alessandro’s death and Ramona marries Felipe she is forever in love with him.
“The wild mustard in Southern California is like that spoken of in the New Testament. . . . Its gold is as distinct a value to the eye as the nugget gold is in the pocket.”
Following the Mexican-American War, Southern California became a place of interest since the book had a great influence on the image of Southern California. The descriptions of the land, culture and Mexican colonial life had a significant impact on reinforcing its unique identity. The statement expresses the grand manner in which the author portrayed the scenery, culture, and beauty of the region. This portrayal saw a significant number of tourists explore the region after the novels’ publication in order to experience the scenic land and cultural richness.
