SOURCE: Parotti, Phillip. “Nature and Symbol in Estela Portillo's ‘The Paris Gown.’” Studies in Short Fiction 24, no. 4 (fall 1987): 417-24.

In the following essay, Parotti identifies nature as the controlling symbol of “The Paris Gown.”

Estela Portillo de Trambley's short story, “The Paris Gown,” is a crafted fiction which develops its theme through masterful manipulation of traditional literary devices. The work is, certainly, other things as well. Charles M. Tatum has called attention to the story's liberation theme and declared its sensitive, feminine thrust.¹ Judy Salinas has suggested that the piece emphasizes the “humanness” of woman “through an understanding of her role in Chicano society and in all society and how it restricts or frees her.”² Finally, Bruce-Novoa writes:

“The Paris Gown” offers a less violent, but certainly equally positive tale of female liberation. Besides the open attack on anachronistic machismo and the creation of a strong, interesting female...