Dreaming in Cuban

by

Cristina García

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Dreaming in Cuban: Celia’s Letters: 1950–1955 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
In 1950, Celia writes to Gustavo that her mother-in-law, Berta Arango del Pino, while on her deathbed, threw a decanter at Celia after claiming she wanted to make peace. She screamed at Celia for stealing her husband and then fell dead, shaking up Jorge terribly.
Celia’s mother-in-law never stops perceiving Celia as a threat to her relationship with her son, even while senile and dying. In this way, harmful obsessions are ubiquitous throughout the story, playing out in multiple branches of the family at the same time.
Themes
Passion, Romance, and Marriage Theme Icon
Intergenerational Conflict Theme Icon
Obsession and Devotion Theme Icon
In 1951, Celia writes of Jorge’s harshness toward Javier. He makes Javier study accounting from the time he is five years old, and he constantly scolds and corrects the boy. Jorge was traumatized by his car accident and fears his family will be left destitute in the future. Celia urges Gustavo to kiss his sons, if he has them.
Jorge’s harshness toward his son stems from his fears about his own fragility, as well as his sexist assumption that his wife and daughters cannot fend for themselves without him.
Themes
Intergenerational Conflict Theme Icon
In 1952, Celia writes that “that bastard Batista” stole Cuba and that it must be the Americans’ fault. She doesn’t want Javier learning about manhood from such men. She has started campaigning for the Orthodox Party. Salvador, the father of Felicia’s friend Herminia, says that Batista is under the god Changó’s protection and his destiny is set, but he will eventually leave Cuba. This gives Celia hope.
Fulgencio Batista was the dictator of Cuba, with U.S. backing, before Castro came to power in 1959. The Orthodox Party was a left-wing populist party which opposed political corruption. Celia’s turn to politics seems to be motivated partly by what she sees as Jorge’s failure to be a good father to Javier; she searches for an alternative in political figures and eventually finds what she seeks in Castro. Celia also continues to find strength in Santería when it suits her.
Themes
In 1953, Celia protests in front of the palace in Havana. She admires the young leader of the rebels; he reminds her of a young, idealistic Gustavo. Jorge, however, is upset when he learns about Celia’s protesting. Celia is hurt by Jorge’s and Lourdes’s bond and believes that Lourdes is punishing her for the early years of neglect.
Celia’s interest in politics takes shape at a time when she feels lonely in her marriage and helpless to secure deeper bonds with her daughters. In politics, she finds an identity apart from her family and an outlet for her passion. Castro reminds Celia of Gustavo, who believed in Celia’s potential to be more than a lover, wife, or mother.
Themes
Passion, Romance, and Marriage Theme Icon
History and Personal Identity Theme Icon
Obsession and Devotion Theme Icon
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In 1954, Celia worries about Felicia. Felicia has left high school at 15 and is searching for a job in Havana. Celia knows there’s only one job a girl like Felicia could get, one that has destroyed many young Cuban girls. She laments that this has happened to their country. Later that year, Javier wins a national science prize for children; Celia is proud when she’s told that Javier is a genius, though she doesn’t understand what exactly he does. Meanwhile, Felicia gets a job selling stationery, but Celia senses it won’t last.
The possible trajectories for girls and boys in pre-Revolutionary Cuba are, according to Celia, markedly different. A boy as young as Javier has hope for a bright, respectable career, but a girl like Felicia has limited options, some of which—like prostitution—are ruinous.
Themes
Intergenerational Conflict Theme Icon
History and Personal Identity Theme Icon