Chapter 15 Summary

The Nieto family is obsessed with death. They regularly hold syances and lecture their youth on how to take care of the family pantheon. Ghost stories abound in Carlos' life. They fear things that cause death like strokes and cramps and take all kinds of precautions against them . . . like not swimming for hours after eating.

Paradoxically, the children are allowed to play with firecrackers and have rock fights. One time, the dreaded Ernesto, who usually did not partake in the rock fights (and was, hence, inexperienced), partook and was hit on his nose. His nose was broken, and it gushed with blood. He never will breathe the same.

Chapter 15 Analysis

The theme of this chapter is death. At one point, Louis the XVI says to Carlos, "Death is always around the corner, always ready to surprise you." Eire sees how napve he was...