Angelita

In "Angelita Unearthed," Angelita symbolizes death. When the baby first starts visiting the narrator at her apartment, the narrator is determined to dismiss her from her life. However, no matter what she attempts, the baby will not quit her. With time, she grows accustomed to the baby's presence, and no longer fears her. In this way, the baby is a representation of death itself. Though the narrator might try to get rid of her, she cannot. Though she might try to run away from her, she can never escape.

Virgin Statue

In "Our Lady of the Quarry," the statue at the Virgin grotto is a symbol of innocence. When Natalia visits the grotto alone, she comes back and tells her friends that the statue is not in fact a Virgin but a red plaster woman. She says she asked the statue for a favor, and the...