Marriage in the Church

Juan Villegas' relationships with Maria Rosa and Maria Concepcion were different but his attitude towards both women was extremely selfish and insensitive. When he describes the way he feels about both of them to Givens he explains that he expects Maria Concepcion to be silent and subservient because she is his wife. He then says that Maria Rosa sometimes talks so much that he needs to hit her but that she pleases him more than his wife. When Maria Concepcion kills her husband's lover, her neighbors protect her from the law because "she is a woman of good reputation among [them], and Maria Rosa was not" (pg19). Maria Concepcion is a more sympathetic character in general because she was married in the church. I think that Katherine Anne Porter is suggesting that future generations of Mexicans who desire political change should be quiet and patient like Maria Concepcion. She didn't directly oppose Juan but was empowered enough to oppose him through the support of the institution of marriage and the opinion of the community. Maria Rosa died because she was a revolutionary who opposed tradition and was openly rebellious, but her son will learn how to bring about social change from his adopted mother, Maria Concepcion.