Motherhood and Loss

The book explores maternal love, grief, and sacrifice through Teresa's unassuageable sorrow for her daughter Olga, Rosa's role as a wet nurse, and Maddalena's longing for a child, highlighting the pain of unfulfilled or severed maternal bonds.

Themes of maternal care and absence are introduced through characters like Rosa and Teresa.

Teresa's inability to provide maternal affection highlights the theme of lost or failed motherhood.

Teresa's fierce, possessive love for Olga drives her to bargain with God and the Virgin Mary, demanding her daughter's life and struggling with the potential loss of her only child.

Olga's impending death and Teresa's protective, commanding role evoke themes of maternal care and the pain of loss.