Genre
Fiction
Setting and Context
The short stories were written in the early 20th century. The short stories explore life in Mexico in the early 20th century.
Narrator and Point of View
A third-person narrative told from the perspective of Juan, Petra, and Popo.
Tone and Mood
Intriguing and saddening at the same time. For instance, Petra is married to Manuelo, who beats her most of the time. However, towards the end, they solidify their union with a happy ending.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonists are Juan, Petra, and Popo.
Major Conflict
The major conflict in the book is arrived at when Juan realizes that his brother, Tiburcio is in love with Dalore. Dalore is the love of Juan all through, but he realizes that she had been cheating on him with his brother. At last, Juan surrenders and wishes his brother and Dalore a happy marriage life.
Climax
The major climax in the story 'John of God' is when John decides to stop pursuing Dalore as his future wife. In 'The Gold Vanity Set,' the climax is when Petra finds her newfound treasure. In the story 'The Education of Popo,' the climax is attained when Alicia reconciles with her divorced husband, Edward.
Foreshadowing
Juan's father's decision to send Juan to the City of Mexico to earn a living foreshadowed a possible breakup between him and Dalore. It came to pass when Juan realized later that Dalore fell in love with his brother in his absence.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
The mysterious appearance of Edward at the party signifies a possible reconciliation between him and Alicia. The reconciliation of this divorced couple in the party organized by Popo shows that first-time lovers will always share that bond for the rest of their lives.
Imagery
The narrator uses the ornamental appearance of Petra to depict the sense of sight to readers. The mentioning of 'The Vine-Leaf' also helps readers to visualize the life of Dr. Malsufrido.
Paradox
The main paradox is when Popo shows interest in marrying Alicia, but towards the end, he educates her about marriage when he learns that she is a divorcee.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
The word 'peremptorily' is a metonymy referring to the kind dictatorial approach of the City of Mexico.
Personification
The capital of Mexico is personified when the author says that it is sensitive in its reputation.
