Beads

The pretty beads Tone gives Lala symbolize a means of escape for her. The narrator says, “[Lala] is now beginning to think of braiding and beading as something she could do to get away… The best and brightest beads might be a beginning” (170). In Lala's eyes, these beautiful beads might set her apart from the other hair-braiders, bringing her wealth and, consequently, a means of escaping her grandparents.

Lala's wedding ring

Lala’s wedding ring, made of stolen gold, is symbolic of the falsity of her marriage. In the first place, Adan only marries Lala because she gets pregnant and begs him to. Thus, it becomes clear that their love lacks the usual foundation of trust expected in a marriage. Much like the wedding ring, most of the items in their home were bought with the money from Adan’s shady jobs. This creates a layer...