Silence

Silence is one of the earliest introduced and most elaborately developed themes in the novel. The first description in the novel is of Mexia, whose silence makes a profound impression on the young Almeyda. Mexia's silence is a mark of her stoic refusal of colonial condition. Her refusal to speak is what torments Almeyda envisions is what Father Tollinare, who is utterly captivated by her.

Almeyda is told to be silent in her service to her master and to Pao Joaquim. Her mother, Acaiba is silent in her service and in her suffering as well. After her mutilation, Almeyda goes through a long period of silence. While living with Old Vera and Barcala Aprigio in a mountainous retreat after the destruction of Palmares, Barcala refers to her as "Almeyda, the eternal truly silent woman" (452).

Silence is related to suffering here, but also to the power to...