Rios de la Luz performs "Itza" from the novel Itza

Summary

In 'So This Is Pizza,' the narrative unfolds around the death of Abuelita, who lies in her forest bed, surrounded by nature's beauty and mystery. The protagonist reflects on her vibrant spirit, recalling memories of climbing trees and indulging in messy, flavorful foods. As they journey to honor her, the themes of love, loss, and the intertwining of life and death emerge, enhanced by vivid imagery of the forest and marigolds. The protagonist's connection to her grandmother deepens as she imagines Abuelita as a ghostly figure wandering through the landscape, bridging the realms of the living and the dead.

Takeaways

• 😀 The chapter is titled 'So This Is Pizza' and tells the story of a great-grandmother (Abuelita) who passed away in her sleep in a serene, forest setting.
• 🌿 Abuelita’s bed was placed in the middle of the forest, surrounded by yellow leaves, and covered by a giant maple leaf.
• 🍄 After her death, mushrooms bloomed out of her mattress, and mist filled the forest, creating an ethereal atmosphere.
• 🌫️ The family tells the neighbors that it was Abuelita’s dream to wander in the forest as a ghost, blending with fog and following rivers.
• 🌳 The family imagines her in the afterlife, picking up litter, guiding hunters, and living alongside nature.
• 🍴 The narrator recalls Abuelita's love for messy, smelly foods, particularly sardines and mangos, and her joyful eating habits.
• 🚗 The narrator reflects on the long car journey with her mom to LA, where they were told to breathe in the mist and salt of the ocean.
• 🌼 The family brings marigold flowers and candles during the trip, honoring Abuelita's memory as they travel to lay her to rest.
• ⚰️ The imagery of the yellowing trees and marigolds along the hills evokes the sense of finality and the cycle of life and death.
• 👻 The narrator wonders if she could inherit Abuelita’s mystical abilities, imagining herself as a water witch who would devour her food with enthusiasm and intuition.
• 💧 The script ends with a quiet, introspective moment, where the narrator finds a yellow leaf on the ground, symbolizing Abuelita’s spirit, before being struck by a droplet of water.

Q & A

What is the significance of the setting described in the passage?

The setting, which features a forest with yellow leaves, mist, and mushrooms blooming from the mattress, creates a surreal, dream-like atmosphere that reflects the mystical themes of the narrative. It represents the boundary between life and death, with the forest symbolizing a space where the deceased can continue to exist in a spiritual, ghostly form.

How does the description of the great-grandmother's death reflect cultural beliefs?

The great-grandmother's death is described in a peaceful, almost magical way, with her body blending into nature. This can reflect cultural beliefs in ancestor spirits and the natural world, where death is seen not as an end, but as a transition into a form that is integrated with nature and can continue to interact with the living world.

What role does the great-grandmother's connection to the forest play in the narrative?

The great-grandmother's connection to the forest is symbolic of her transformation into a ghost. It allows her to be one with nature, where she can blend with the fog, follow rivers, and interact with animals. This connection emphasizes her spiritual power and the continuity of her presence in the natural world after death.

What is the meaning behind the great-grandmother's love for 'messy foods' and 'smelly foods'?

Her love for messy, smelly foods represents her free-spirited, unapologetic nature. It may also symbolize the importance of enjoying life’s pleasures without concern for societal norms or appearances. This characteristic enhances her vivid, earthy personality and her embrace of life in all its raw forms.

What is the significance of the marigold flowers in the script?

Marigolds are often associated with death and remembrance, particularly in Latin American cultures where they are used in Day of the Dead rituals. The marigolds in the script symbolize both the mourning process and the celebration of the great-grandmother’s life and legacy.

How does the imagery of the great-grandmother's spirit in the forest convey her continued presence?

The great-grandmother's spirit is described as blending with the mist and following the animals, indicating that her influence continues even after death. This suggests that her essence remains in the world, guiding and watching over her family, while also connecting to the natural world in a spiritual way.

What does the passage about 'being a water witch' signify in the context of the narrator's thoughts?

The mention of being a water witch reflects the narrator's yearning for a deeper connection to nature and spiritual power. It also suggests an inheritance of magical or intuitive abilities, perhaps passed down from the great-grandmother, and ties into the themes of transformation and spiritual inheritance.

How does the narrator’s journey to LA contribute to the theme of loss and memory?

The journey to LA, with marigolds in their laps and candles in the car, shows the narrator’s act of remembrance and honoring of their great-grandmother. It emphasizes the physical and emotional distance they travel to process the loss, suggesting that memories of the deceased are carried with them as they move forward in life.

Why does the narrator whisper into the mist, asking if they are a 'water witch'?

The narrator's whisper into the mist symbolizes a moment of self-reflection and connection to the spiritual realm. It suggests a desire for guidance or confirmation from the supernatural, perhaps seeking a deeper understanding of their own identity and powers in relation to their ancestor's legacy.

What is the symbolism of the leaf that the narrator finds and holds to their chest?

The leaf represents a connection to the great-grandmother and the natural world. By holding it to their chest, the narrator symbolizes an emotional bond and a moment of remembrance. The leaf also serves as a physical manifestation of the narrator’s grief and their desire to preserve the memory of their ancestor.