Racism

In this book racism is a constant theme and is practiced equally by all races. It is particularly evident in California, where Europeans, Asians, and Hispanics all come together to search for gold. Although they all start out on equal footing, the precedents of their societies cause them to quickly divide into ethnic communities and form a pecking order. Hate crimes are carried out by each group against the others. Underlying this is the relationship between Eliza and Tao Chi’en, she is at least part Caucasian while he is Chinese. They have a friendship with deeper feelings they do not even consider acknowledging because an inter-racial affair is unthinkable.

Gender Equality

The theme of gender equality is complex in this novel. In Chile and Europe, women are still considered delicate and second-class. They do not own property and their only career options are housekeeper or prostitute. Rose...