Many of the characters, including the Lady Matador, Aura Estrada, and Won Kim all experienced one of these things in their childhood. While some of the parents could not help neglecting their children, because it was due to their death, it still had a great psychological impact on them. Suki’s mother died when she was 14 years old, at the age when a girl needs her mother most. For Aura Estrada, most of her family was murdered and she was left all alone. Won Kim’s father didn’t approve of his passion for butterfly catching and wouldn’t acknowledge his existence. All of these things had a significant impact on how these characters developed and eventually, who they would become. Research has been done as recently as the past few months concerning what kind of effects these things have on children, particularly the death of a parent, and a few studies have been done that scientifically prove that children who have been excessively belittled or ridiculed by an adult that they look up to are more likely to become depressed or suicidal.This explains why Suki, Aura, and Won Kim did the things that they did leading up to the events that took place in the book and why they each viewed life and love the way they did. What’s remarkable about each of these characters is that they each defied gender norms at one point in …show more content…
This stage in a girl’s life is very significant, as there are many physical and emotional changes that she goes through. A mother is the one who is supposed to reassure, calm, and comfort a child during this time, having experienced it herself. According to the Journal of Human Resources, “ a mother is more intertwined with her children’s everyday activities and provides their lives with structure. When a mother is lost, the surviving father must provide the child with comfort and procure to fill the void left by the mother’s death.” (Gimenez 1067) To lose such a vital aid at fourteen years old could result in multiple negative scenarios but for Suki, many would say she did better than expected. One might think that to lose a mother at that age, she would rely on a man in order to feel any self worth and marry early but instead, she does something quite different. Her father took care of her after her mother died and it was obvious that he made a big impact on her, as the things that he taught her ultimately influenced her decisions in the future.She also was afraid to let anyone in, to let anyone see who she was, aside from her father. He was a professional dancer and she eventually used the dancing skills he taught her while fighting in the bullring. One could argue that he was the cause of her success, and that if it weren’t for him, Suki’s professional career, in addition to her personal life, would be