“My aunt and that i label the mommy “not-Mama.” As with maybe not-Mama charred the brand new chicken that’s cursing from the home. Not-Mama was playing one record again, moving herself in the dark. Keep an eye out, not-Mama try perception sorry to have by herself…” (pg 121).

Felicia lifetime an uneven and you will chaotic life. She marries three various other guys, certainly one of which she does not think about fulfilling. She disappears for some time, of course, if she return she informs their unique facts off awakening right up inside the an as yet not known bed, iliar guy. That is their own 2nd spouse. Their particular 3rd, she marries and also following accidentally forces him off an excellent rollercoaster to their dying. The woman is very likely to blackouts because of their bipolar disorder, which will was basically as a result of syphilis the father away from their own students offered their, but it is also important to keep in mind one to their particular mommy, Celia, keeps an anxious breakdown of her very own immediately following Lourdes’ birth. Sadly, Felicia passes away soon after she productivity house from their disappearance, supplying the reader the sensation you to she is actually never designed to look for her feeling of that belong.

The guy confesses in order to leaving her appropriate these people were hitched so you’re able to his personal mommy, to help you penalize their for having a good Foreign language spouse just before him

Lourdes learns regarding Felicia’s dying from their dad, the final day she’s going to talk to your. Felicia “was sad when she passed away” (pg. 196), Jorge says to their. The guy and additionally tells explains in order to Lourdes as to the reasons Celia is always so severe together with her right away. Because the novel goes on, it’s obvious one earlier traumas are not just common, he’s passed down from generation to generation, bound to repeat themselves.

As previously mentioned, the two major themes in the Thinking for the Cuban try vocabulary and you will practical question out of household and belonging. Precisely what does it suggest to own a code? Precisely what does they imply having a property, or even feel you fall in somewhere? They are the inquiries that each and every core character into the the fresh new unique query themselves, regularly.

Having Celia, their unique home is in the Cuba, where she’s transformed herself to the a dedicated follower out of Fidel Castro https://lovingwomen.org/fr/femmes-philippines/. She chooses to remain in Cuba, no matter if their own spouse actions with the All of us. She stays, even when their particular eldest child and you can first granddaughter move away. For Celia del Pino, she seems in which she belongs within the Cuba, support El Lider, and you will talking their own Cuban Foreign language.

Jorge wishes Lourdes to understand that Celia did, in fact, like their unique, it is partly his blame towards the burdened relationship they have

To own Lourdes, her house is in the usa. She finds out a new sense of belonging in the us and also in the fresh English words this lady has implemented. It’s here in which she’s visited by their own father, where she has been able to reinvent herself, in which she can pursue their personal “American Dream”. Whether or not their particular child doesn’t learn their unique, it’s just in-going to The united states you to definitely she’s able to flee the fresh new memory from their unique violent attack in which she shed an infant. It’s just regarding tons regarding gluey buns she takes so you’re able to disfigure her very own body, in order to camouflage the brand new markings that bequeath across the her tummy you to definitely she are unable to discover. Lourdes will not feel at your home in the Cuba, she has challenging feelings regarding discomfort when she is compelled to come back whenever Felicia dies. She mocks her mom’s life style and the remainder of the latest Cubans having decided to remain. She can not waiting to exit the latest area and you can return to their own real family, from inside the Ny.