Who Would have thought it?

The novel is an easy read, and I'm enjoying it. There is a lot of drama, which makes it's fun, but at the same time it points out crucial  gender, class, and race issues, and shows how they are all interconnected. 

I see a lot of parallelism in Mrs, Norval and the United States and Lola and Mexico. Mrs Norval symbolizes the greed of US and Lola like Mexico is defenseless.  In the first few chapter the racial issues really stand out. We are familiarized with the American attitude towards non-Americans specially, blacks, natives and Europeans. Within one family like Dr. Norval's points of views can vary. In the case of Dr. Norval's family, Mattie and Dr. Norval have less detest in foreigners, and Mrs. Norval the most. Doña Theresa also views the Indians as savages, and she is Mexican, "Thank god, Lolita is away from those horrid savages" P36. I think Doña Theresa's request to baptize Lola is very significant. "please do not forget that she must be baptized and brought up Roman Catholic" It is important because she differentiates "civilized" and "barbarians", and religion being very crucial to being civilized. Pointing out Roman Catholic, also highlights the religious division in the society and it's importance , which we will see later chapters being dedicated mainly to religious practices and a person's right and freedom to choose one's religion , ie. Chapter 15. 

  We can also see how nosy neighbors and friends are during that time. They monitor and report every one's act. They try to find out the latest news, and socialize with one another to find out the secrets of each others lives. The greed and competition really stands out. The importance of dressing well, accessories and jewelries related with class and status. Ruth's conversation with her aunt demonstrates women's preoccupation's during that time.  Women's goal was to look appropriate and to find a good match, marrying for love or marring for money and status. I could feel a great frustration and desperation from Ruth, Laviana and Mr. Hackwell's sister.

In the begining Mr. Hammerhard's and Hackewell's wives seemed lucky to be married and to have babies. Mr. Hammerhard's and Hackwell's conversation in chapter 9 really disgusts me. The way they felt towards their wives, and their reason for marrying them, and how they are constantly planning to make some money by using some one. Chapter 9 is one of the chapters in the beginning where I was awakened by the evilness and corruption of the country; Mr. Hackwell's plan to fool Mrs. Norval as her pastor.