Big Angel was the father and patriarch of the entire clan. The All-Father, Mexican Odin."
-- Big Angel ("Big Angel's Last Saturday" )

Importance: Here, the narrative describes Big Angel's high-status position within the de la Cruz family, which is likened to a "clan" in order to emphasize its size and grandness. The novel likens Big Angel to Odin, the Norse god associated with wisdom, healing, knowledge, poetry, and death. The description of Big Angel in these terms is apt as he proves himself, throughout the course of the novel, as something of a poet on the topic of death; however, at the same time, the comparison is meant to be ironic as Big Angel, unlike Odin, is deeply flawed.

A life, pendejo--you. The ripple starts out strong and gets slighter till it hits the shore. Then it comes back. Almost invisible. But it's there, changing things, and you're in the middle wondering if you accomplished anything."
-- Dave ("Here We Go, Pops" )

Importance: In this...