Efrén Divided

The motif of food in the novel serves several purposes. As readers learn more about Efrén’s household, daily life, and likes and dislikes through food details, the motif serves to characterize and humanize him. Mentions of food also help to remind the reader consistently throughout the story of the conflict Efrén has with money; once Amá is gone, Efrén sees how worrying it is to have to choose between the cash for the laundromat and clean clothes (always important to Amá) and having money to use for food and snacks. Most importantly, though, the motif of food serves to support the theme of “Personal Sacrifice for Family.” In the first chapter, Amá makes sopes for her children but does not partake of even one for herself. Mentions of preparing the corn dough on the skillet and flipping tortillas with her fingers suggest taking risks of pain and burns for the sake of efficient and expertly cooked meals.

Without Amá, Efrén tries his best to concoct a recipe for “donut ‘thingies’” on his first morning alone with the twins—a cooking session that results in actual burns for him and reliance on the fallback plan of the school breakfast program to ensure the twins eat something.