Alvarez does want to take us beyond the legend of the in creating our characters and she does this in various ways. With legends, the heroes never really acquaint themselves with the people. They are distant icons that people never really got to know, to understand. Alvarez gives the legends a more human demeanor in her story. They have raw emotion, flaws, and little quirks that make us connect with them on a radically different level in which we feel like we were a part of them and what they were doing.
By including all of the little personal details of her characters, Alvarez puts you in the same room as these women. As I mentioned before, you really get a sense that you knew these people. For example, when Minerva stands up to her father or is making a smart comment at the car dealership you truly get a vivid image in your mind of who Minerva is, what she looks like, how she talks, etc. It’s the same when Mate writes in her diary about her clothes for her first communion, Alvarez grants us a new degree of context that allows us to appreciate just how innocent little Mate really was.
All of this new context that Alvarez strives to grant the reader creates an invaluable sense of familiarity. This familiarity allows the reader to form a connection with the characters and take on the role of a silent character who is actually a part of the action. I think the reader should take on this silent character role as it adds to the sense of immersion that is so imperative for a good story to be told. When people finish reading Alvarez’ story they are going to remember the tale of these women because they will feel like they were a part of it.
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