The paradox of motherhood
The mother's responsibility is to be close to the children and offer them support. Paradoxically, Blanca does exactly the opposite because she leaves her children unattended, and the gap between them widens. Olga and her brother, Prieto, have not felt their mother's love because she is a radical and joined the Young Lords to fight for the freedom of Puerto Rico.
The satire of discouragement
When Olga gets an opportunity to join a prestigious college, she expects congratulations and encouragement to pursue her dreams. Satirically, the first person who discourages her from pursuing her dreams in college is her mother. The reader learns that Olga's mother sends discouraging letters to her educators, negatively affecting her academic progress.
Puerto Rican Culture
Blanca is a radical woman, and she wants all her children to adhere to Puerto Rican culture strictly. Ironically, Olga and Prieto are not appreciated by their mother because they do the contrary. The children have freedom. The children are westernized and they have adopted the American culture.
