Sea

The sea symbolizes chaos. Throughout the text, imagery of the sea illustrates moments when the characters are lost, like when Uxbal's letter reminds Ulises of his exile and isolation. "The Sea" is the section of the book in which the family members are most divided geographically, until the end. The pacing of the novel increases in this section, as well. It's also the section in which Ulises and Soledad voyage back to Cuba, leaving behind the order they had established in Connecticut.

Land

The land symbolizes stability. "The Land" is the title of the first section of the book and marks the time the Encarnacion family spends in Connecticut, mostly together under the same roof but driven toward their individual goals. Ulises becomes physically acquainted with the land of their new home, working on Willems's plantations as a way to feel at home.

Paradise

Paradise symbolizes...