Motif of Fire

Reid uses the motif of fire to illustrate the destructive force of infidelity. In the dry land of California, one spark of flame can cause acres worth of loss and destruction. Similarly, the destructive force of infidelity spreads beyond just the husband and wife to impact children and those with whom the unfaithful partner had his affair. In the Riva’s story, the fire of infidelity causes death and poverty, but also a renewal as the siblings realize all they need is one another.

June allows the fire infidelity to completely destroy her. Her twice ex-husband Mick is described as being the type of person who was known for setting fires and then walking away. Mick set these fires with June when he proposed to her and promised to give her everything she wanted. He physically walked away from her twice when he had...