Chapter 39 Summary

It takes Carlos' mother three-and-a-half years before she reunites with them. She is, at one point, chased by a mob who consider her a traitor for wanting to leave. She does not give up, no matter how many obstacles get in her way. While his mother loves him intensely, Carlos has buried his love for his parents deep inside, where it cannot hurt him.

Carlos does remember the lizards, however, and it is his life-long challenge to conquer his revulsion for them. He cannot get past the superficial and see that underneath the disgusting and vile exterior, there is nothing truly disgusting or vile about a lizard.

Chapter 39 Analysis

The lizards are symbolic of the things that scare Eire. When he is living in exile, separated from his parents, he is afraid to remember his love for them, so he buries them far...