You were always crumbling. You were always eroding. I thought, I need to be force.
-- Carmen (Preface)

Importance: At the very beginning of the novel, Carmen addresses Jeanette and begs her to find the will to live. Carmen recognizes that she has not always been the best mother, having kept many secrets and, at times, remained emotionally distant from her daughter. Here, Carmen reveals that she felt the need to be stoic in order to allow her daughter to experience weakness. The use of the words “crumbling” and “eroding” imply that Jeanette is unable to fight against the external forces that are making her weak, lacking the inner strength possessed by Carmen. Carmen stating “I need to be force” immediately indicates that the word “force” has significance for this line of women and will continue to be a theme throughout the novel.

They knew they risked their lives. But María Isabel and...
-- Narrator (chapter 1)