Imagery of Falling
The most recurrent images in the novel are of the things falling, whether they are concrete things or abstract ones. The author has portrayed how Columbia was falling apart and at the same time people's health was falling. Moreover, the marriage of the protagonist also falls apart because of the death of his friend. The sight of the death shattered Antonio's life and he suffered from Post-traumatic stress disorder. The city was falling because of drug cartels who were aggregating violence and bloodshed instead of employing legal means of punishment. The legal system was also deteriorating owing to the unrestrained activities of the drug dealers.
Vague Relations
The author has also employed the images of vague relationships in the novel. Antonio's relationship with Aura is based on selfish motives. The author has demonstrated that Aura got indulged in sexual relationship with Antonio just because of getting better grades. There was no affection or love between the two individuals. It was like a bargain where Aura was getting grades by giving her body. Antonio doesn't bother about her when she gets pregnant. Antonio's relationship with Maya is not intimate as well. She gets involve in a physical relationship owing to sharing their past. It has been depicted how Antonio's relationship with Ricardo leads him to serious injury because there was no trust based bond between them.
Images of Violence
There are images of violence in the novel. The drug cartels were killing people in the streets. They did not care about law or legal proceedings and violently murdered people. Although Antonio was not involved in drug dealing but owing to his friendship with Ricardo, he suffered near death experience. The cartel murdered Ricardo in front of Antonio's eyes and no one could save him. Antonio's relationship with Aura is also violent because he doesn't take the responsibility of his child and gives away his relationship with her after suffering from trauma.
