Opium, or "Dreamland"
This novel isn't just set in borderlands. There is a new post-apocalyptic nation ruled by a dangerous cartel overlord, the land between future Mexico and future US. The land is symbolically titled: Opium. It is also called Dreamland by some. Perhaps Opium is a symbol for the helplessness that people feel in the town, just as opium addiction leads to some of the most difficult feelings of hopeless addiction, leaving people in a nightmarish state, or a "Dreamland." The symbol points the reader to the way pleasure forms obstacles in life, like in the beginning of the novel when Matt's pleasure prevents him from admitting the truth about El Patron.
The evil patriarch
El Patron is a symbol referring to the misuse of authority that comes from evil. Patriarchy is also a good interpretation for his character, since after all, his name does literally mean, "The Patriarch," although the word has a flexible meaning in Spanish and can also mean "lord" or "bossman." Another reason to interpret him as an evil patriarch is because he plays a patriarchal role in the life of his clone-son, Matteo.
Cannibalism and political instability
The premise of the novel is horrifying and symbolic. El Patron doesn't die because he raises clones and then harvests their organs when his body fails. This represents the inversion of sacrifice, because instead of sacrificing himself to create a better society, he sacrifices the society for more time. He is an anti-leader because he exploits those he alleges to help, leading to serious political instability in the region. This is also a symbol for the effect of cartels in modern Mexico.
The symbolic wedding
The wedding is darkened by news of El Patron's heart attack. This means Matt will be called upon to die. He is not allowed to celebrate the union of male and female, which is interesting also because he doesn't have a mother. He is only a clone of El Patron, so the fact that a wedding brings him the news of his impending death is a complex symbol. One way to read the symbol is to say the wedding represents a brokenness in the social fabric, because El Patron ruins what should be a good thing.
The dark funeral
Finally, the reader says. Finally, El Patron has been deposed of his evil reign. But then, at the funeral where the community tries to work through the damage he caused them, something even worse happens. He has poisoned the wine for his own funeral and everyone in attendance dies a painful death. This is the ultimate symbol of his hatred and incompetence, because instead of a ship going down with his captain, this captain has sunken a perfectly good ship, just to kick against the goads of his own death.
