[Emma] knew Beatriz too intimately not to go and help now.
-- Narration (chapter 4)

Importance: This idea helps to establish the unusual but very intimate relationship that Emma, as Beatriz's English translator, has formed with Beatriz over the years. Through their repeated collaboration, Emma has developed a friendship with Beatriz and a bond over the creative processes regarding Beatriz’s works. Moreover, Emma believes that her knowledge of Beatriz’s works give Emma an insight into Beatriz true character and internal life.

[Raquel] had no patience for the illusion that you could know someone because you knew her novels. What about knowing what a writer had never written down—wasn’t that the real knowledge of who she was?
-- Narration (chapter 9)

Importance: This quotation establishes Raquel and her ideas as direct literary foils for the character and ideas of Emma. While Emma has great faith in the power of literature to reveal the writer’s true self...