“Color is my own language, I needed to tell him. Translations just mistake it, dilute it, such terms and conditions going away from Foreign-language so you’re able to English. I envy my mommy their Foreign-language curses both. They make my personal English failure from inside the a pile.” (pg. 59)

Felicia has actually an extremely personal, however substandard connection with their unique college students

Pilar and Lourdes are far from intimate. Pilar have a log, hence she have to cover-up from inside the lining of their cold temperatures coat. Pilar’s journal is considered to be a mirror of one’s pseudo-log that Celia keeps, in writing letters so you can their unique previous lover. Pilar and you can Celia are extremely equivalent, in addition to their parallels emerge a little more about given that book goes towards. This might be another reason why Lourdes and Pilar are continuously butting thoughts. Lourdes’s relationship with Celia was difficult. When Celia offered delivery in order to Lourdes, she actually is cited just like the passing the child so you’re able to Jorge and you will claiming “I won’t consider their own label” (pg 43). Lourdes is aware of that it facts, and also in a way teaches you the reasons why she clings to help you their unique dad and you will rejects their unique mom.

One-day Lourdes discovers Pilar’s record and you will finds out that her daughter has begun holding herself regarding shower, a consistent thing to do throughout puberty. No matter if Lourdes demonstrably have an issue with sex you to definitely their particular daughter understands, she berates their unique for it, hitting their unique and you can contacting their own a whore. Indeed there is apparently a steady battle ranging from Pilar and you may Lourdes; Lourdes serious pain to get rid of Cuba, when you are Pilar desires to go back that is convinced that she’s going to come across herself if she actually is reunited together with her grandmother here.

Which passing not simply relates to Pilar’s relationship with their own artwork, but it also relates to her tumultuous relationship with her mom, Cuba, and Foreign-language code

Pilar uses their particular paint to speak with folks, it’s within medium you to definitely she seems many such as for example by herself, in which she seems she will be able to be the best understood. Lourdes is actually bored with what Pilar creates. She cannot understand the abstract characteristics from their unique paintings. A vicious circle is created, while the Pilar doesn’t know how to keep in touch with their mother, and Lourdes cannot can talk to their unique daughter. A romance anywhere between a father or mother and you will daughter is traditionally realized guide stockholm since the being among skills and you may mercy. They includes impact safer, otherwise a feeling of that belong. Remarkably, Pilar doesn’t become so it with Lourdes, and you may Lourdes doesn’t become this having Celia. This raises an alternate motif that’s omnipresent from inside the Fantasizing when you look at the Cuban, issue of family and belonging.

In the end, there is the reputation regarding Felicia, and her three students: Ivantino, and her twins Luz and you may Milagro. She dotes into Ivanito, that’s separated throughout the twins. Luz and you can Milagro keeps thoughts of their father that Ivanito really does perhaps not express. For Ivanito, their father abandoned him and also the remainder of the household members, yet the guy cannot understand this otherwise exactly how. Luz and you may Milagro remember the mommy form him ablaze one day and you can exiling him off their house. Felicia was considered the quintessential unpredictable of one’s del Pino family unit members, enduring exactly what appears to be bipolar disorder. She’s got significant downs and ups; she’s minutes once the an enjoying mommy, caring for their particular youngsters. This is overshadowed by their unique moments regarding frenzy, and you may an occurrence where she tries to destroy by herself and you will Ivanito.

Whenever Ivanito is sent to college, he increases a desire for reading the latest languages, especially Russian, and now have some English. The guy expands a love together with Russian professor, and this much like the one to together with mom, can be regarded as improper from the attention of his friends and their university. Their teacher was at some point sent aside, for grounds you to definitely remain undecided, but it is ideal which stems from that have bizarre relationships with his students.