Moths

In the story, "The Moths" by Helena Viramontes, the moths themselves are representative of the conflict with modernity. In one aspect of the story, the moths represent life and regeneration as in their attraction to light. Traditionally their wings were used to make medicine which in turn saves and protects life. In contrast to this however, moths are released in the story when abuelita dies and are thought to 'eat her spirit up'. When in the story it says, "I want to go where the moths are", she is saying she wants to die. There is a strong contrast between life and death that is represented on both sides by the moths. The moths are a symbol of an intersection between traditional times and western medicine, a clash so to speak.

Tiffany Noojin