María · Chapter
XVI explained
Ten days after the painful interview, Efraín avoids the house and María, spending time alone or with José.
What happens
Ten days after the painful interview, Efraín avoids the house and María, spending time alone or with José. His mother confronts him, revealing that María's illness is not the same as Sara's, and urges him to reconcile. Efraín promises to make amends within two days and plans to visit Emigdio.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Sacrifice
Efraín's self-imposed distance from María is a sacrifice for her potential happiness with Carlos, and his mother urges him to reconcile.
Family and Duty
Efraín's mother confronts him about his duty to the family and to María, and he promises to make amends.
Disease and Death
The doctor's clarification that María's disease is not the same as Sara's brings relief and hope.
Characters to notice
- Efraín
Avoids the house and María for ten days, spending time in solitude; his mother confronts him about his behavior.
- María
Suffering in silence due to Efraín's conduct; her illness is clarified by the doctor as not being the same as Sara's.
- Luisa
Mentioned as the mother of Braulio; Efraín used to visit her house often.
- Braulio
Reported to Efraín's mother that Efraín had not visited for five days.
- old José
Efraín spends time in his company during the days of avoidance.
- Mayo
Efraín's dog, who tires himself out following Efraín during his aimless wanderings.
Key passages
“Things cannot go on this way. You must not keep on like this. I cannot bear it.”
Efraín's mother tells him that his current behavior is unbearable and cannot continue.
Mother's confrontation with Efraín.
“María ought to be completely free to accept the good-fortune which Carlos offers her; and I, as his friend, ought not to destroy the hopes of being accepted which he may with so much reason cherish.”
Efraín believes María should be free to accept Carlos's proposal, and as a friend, he should not hinder Carlos's hopes.
Efraín explains his reasoning for distancing himself.
“The doctor says that María’s disease is not the same that Sara had.”
The doctor has informed the family that María's illness is different from Sara's, implying it may be less severe.
Relief about María's condition.