The Mixquiahuala Letters

Alicia and Teresa visit Mixquiahuala early in the book, on their first trip to Mexico. Teresa describes the city as “Pre-Conquest,” referring to the Spanish conquest of Mexico. This description of Mixquiahuala evokes a sense of long-held identity, as the city has endured and retained some of its original character. The mention of “conquest” makes the city a fitting place for the two women to visit before the various “conquests” of outside forces (usually men) in their lives. Teresa also achieves what could be called an “interior” Mixquiahuala by the story’s end. Despite the conquests and forces that have acted upon her, she retains her sense of identity and achieves integrity, belonging, and peace. She symbolically comes full circle and “returns” to Mixquiahuala.

Physical objects and possessions symbolize identity and belonging in The Mixquiahuala Letters. The description of Alicia’s possessions in her and Rodney’s apartment underscores the betrayal and violation she feels when she discovers him living there with another woman. Alicia and Teresa exchange physical objects as they correspond, most notably pieces of jewelry that Alicia made; these objects take on symbolic meaning as expressions of Alicia’s artistic self.