Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Farming of Bones, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Power of Memory
Dreams vs. Reality
Language and Identity
Death, Grief, and Hope
Home, Family, and Belonging
Summary
Analysis
Amabelle explains how the “valley’s dust storms” make her joyous. She imagines there are people walking ahead of her in these storms; although she cannot see them, she nevertheless hopes that they will reappear when the storm settles. She sees her mother and father in these storms, and after the dust disappears, her hands are always raised up in prayer.
Amabelle’s description of her joy illustrates a growing sense of hope. Oftentimes, she is portrayed as a grief-stricken, orphaned, and desolate woman; nevertheless, the dust storms inspire her to believe in the dream of a community that moves forward. The imaginary people walking in front of her—leading her—are representative of her ability to look towards the future, despite her past.
Themes
