Caterina could not bear the responsibility of making every decision alone. In the fog of her grief, she had to be sensible and think of every possible alternative for her boys. In her mental state she could not take care of her sons, and she knew it.
-- author/narrator (Chapter 1 paragraph paragraph 1, page 6)

Importance: The quote depicts the state of mind of Catarina Lazzari after the death of her husband, when she faces the fact of single parenthood for her sons, Ciro and Eduardo. The reader gains insight into why she places her boys in a convent as orphans against her will but because she wants the best for her children.

Ciro's chest heaved when she disappeared from view. He longed to open his mouth and cry out for his mother, but what good would that do? CIro hadn't yet learned the difference between sadness and anger. He just knew that he would have liked to smash...
-- author/narrator (Chapter 1 paragraph paragraph 7, page 19)