Andrea’s Aunt Angustias is an extremely Catholic woman whose rhetoric is redolent of Falangism (a political philosophy that predominated during Franco’s rule over Spain). Many critics feel that Angustias serves as a stand-in for women’s experience living under Franco’s rule. For example, Angustias keeps a very large cross in her room, echoing the tradition for Francoist institutions to prominently display such crucifixes. Angustias is also critical of Andrea for being an orphan, echoing the rhetoric of priests and nuns who harshly rebuked the orphaned children of “Reds.”

Angustias also mimics the harsh authoritarianism that was indicative of Falangism, seeking to control the behavior and movement of household members (specifically, Andrea and Gloria). She likens the Barrio Chino neighborhood of Barcelona to “the devil’s glitter” (43), and claims that a woman can become contaminated simply by walking in the wrong area. Angustias also displays extremely heightened, threatening reactions to small provocations, as when she shouts to Andrea, “If I’d gotten hold of you when you were younger, I’d have beaten you to death!” (80).

Angustias faith has very little to do with genuine belief. Her Catholicism is motivated, instead, by a desire to control the behaviors and perceptions of those around her.