“Ghosts are real. And the ones who come aren’t always the one you’ve called.”
The excerpt is symbolically significant as it speaks to the power of supernatural forces, as well as the fragility of the relationship between life and death. Therefore, it is a warning for Gaspar, who has inherited his father Juan’s ability to see and summon beings from the afterlife. Gaspar is aware of the power of these forces, and that they can come from sources beyond his control. In essence, the statement suggests that one should be aware of the risks of summoning powerful supernatural forces, as one cannot always be sure of what they will bring. This warning is particularly pertinent in the context of the novel, as Gaspar and his father are embroiled in a decades-long battle with the Order. Gaspar has inherited this power that makes him a target of the Order, who wish to use him to extend their own lives. This quote implies that life and death are not necessarily as fixed as we think and that there are forces beyond our control that can alter these boundaries.
“Love is impure…And it was true. It contaminates you and makes you possessive, savage, destructive.”
This statement from Rosario illustrates the power of love, and ultimately how it can be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it is a powerful force capable of inspiring immense joy and connection between two people. On the other, it can be possessive, destructive, and even violent. This quote speaks to the dangerous power of love, as it can cause us to act in ways that are not in our best interest. Juan's wife is speaking to the darkness within love that can be dangerous if not managed carefully. The statement is particularly relevant to the novel as a whole, which is about love, family, and the past. Juan and his son, Gaspar, are forced to confront the dark underbelly of love as they grapple with the power of the Order, which is controlled by Rosario's family. Juan is aware that if Gaspar inherits his abilities, the cult will use him for their agenda, and he must do whatever it takes to protect him. In doing so, he must come to terms with the dangers of love, and ultimately find a way to make it a force for good in his life.
“Even with all the hatred, contempt, ambivalence, and repulsion he felt toward the Order, that power was still his, and he didn’t possess many things. Renunciation is easy when you have a lot, he thought. He had never had anything.”
The quote speaks to the complexity of Juan's relationship with the Order. Despite his hatred and contempt for the Order, Juan recognizes the strength of his connection and that it is one of the few things he has. He reflects on how easy it is to give up something when you have a lot but he has never had anything to call his own. Although he has a deep-seated dislike for the cult, he also knows that he has power that can be used to protect his son, Gaspar. The narrative examines the power of familial bonds, the pull of darkness, and the brutality of Argentinian history. This creates a difficult moral dilemma for Juan, as he must decide whether to renounce his power or use it to save his son from the Order.
