Mexican Gothic

by

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Mexican Gothic: Chapter 13 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Noemí decides that she and Catalina will have a casino night, like they used to as children. She goes to Catalina’s room and presents her with the deck of cards, but she seems hesitant to play. Noemí guesses that she’s afraid of Florence, and teases Catalina about it. She then gives her Marta’s remedy, and Catalina’s eyes light up when she sees it. She thanks Noemí profusely, then digs in her drawer and pulls out a silver spoon. Catalina pours herself a teaspoon and swallows greedily, then takes another, then a third. Noemi has to grab her hand to stop her from downing a fourth.
Noemí assumes that Catalina is afraid of Florence and teases her about it. Though her assumption is correct, she misjudges just how afraid of Florence Catalina truly is. Catalina hurriedly overdoses herself with Marta’s remedy, which could be a sign of how strongly she feels the effects of her illness.
Themes
Sexism, Female Independence, and Power Theme Icon
Life, Death, and Rebirth Theme Icon
Noemí chides her, reminding Catalina that Marta’s instructions were to take two spoons at the most. Catalina smiles weakly and then moves to pick up the deck of cards. She suddenly stops, as if frozen in place. Noemí tries to ask her if she’s alright, but she’s interrupted by a loud crack, as if one of Catalina’s joints has broken, and then her cousin begins convulsing. Noemí tries to catch Catalina, and they both fall to the floor. Noemí yells for help. She places the silver spoon in Catalina’s mouth to bar her from biting her tongue.
Catalina seizes immediately after taking the medicine, which indicates that Marta’s remedy somehow causes Catalina’s seizure. The cracking sound is ominous, but it's unclear what causes it. 
Themes
Life, Death, and Rebirth Theme Icon
Noemí runs into the hallway and screams again for help. Finally Francis and Florence appear, and she tells them that Catalina is having a seizure. They all run back to the room, and Francis springs forward to hold Catalina. Florence stops Noemí, ordering her to get out. She slams the door in Noemí’s face. In a few minutes Francis exits the room, walking quickly to go and fetch Dr. Cummins. Noemí wants to go with him, but Francis tells her to wait in the sitting room. He’ll fetch Noemí when he returns; it won’t be long.
It's strange that Florence immediately kicks Noemí out of the room—she shouldn’t yet know that Noemí had anything to do with the seizure. This makes it seem like Florence is hiding something.
Themes
Sexism, Female Independence, and Power Theme Icon
It’s a long time before Francis comes back, and when he does, he brings Florence and Dr. Cummins with him. Noemí asks about Catalina. Dr. Cummins tells her that she’s asleep and through the worst of it. Florence holds up Marta’s bottle and demands to know where it came from. Noemí says it’s just a sleeping tonic, and Catalina was the one who asked for it. Besides, she had already taken it before—it couldn’t have been what made her sick. Dr. Cummins scolds her; is Noemí a medical professional? What does she know? He informs Noemí that what she gave her cousin was an opium tincture. A filthy tincture like this, he says, could have killed her.
Noemí has a point: if Catalina has taken the tonic before, why would it make her sick now? But Dr. Cummins is a medical professional, and Noemí is not. If he says that the tincture contained opium, what reason is there to doubt him? After all, judging by the sequence of events, it’s fairly clear that the remedy caused Catalina to have a seizure.
Themes
Life, Death, and Rebirth Theme Icon
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Florence again asks where Noemí got the tincture. Catalina had told her not to tell anyone, so Noemí bites her tongue. She feels like crying, and she might, but Francis moves behind her and places his hand over hers. Florence tells Noemí that she deserves to be slapped, but just as she moves forward Virgil strolls in and asks to be alone with Noemí. Dr. Cummins immediately obeys, but Florence protests, drawing a bitter response from Virgil. Reluctantly, Florence and Francis leave the room, leaving Virgil and Noemí alone.
Francis openly comforting Noemí while his mother scolds her is akin to a small rebellion; he’s siding with Noemí over his family. It’s noteworthy that when Virgil walks in everyone obeys him. He’s the eldest son of the family patriarch, and that gives him a lot of conventional authority.
Themes
Sexism, Female Independence, and Power Theme Icon
Nature vs. Love Theme Icon
Virgil fills his glass from a decanter and sits on the settee next to Noemí. He tells her that she should have more respect for his home. She’s been constantly upsetting Catalina, and now she’s brought her poison. Noemí’s exasperated, and she gets up to leave, but Virgil grabs her by the wrist and pulls her down. Seeing her wince, he pulls away Noemí’s sleeve and sees the bandage on her wrist. He knows Dr. Camarillo gave her the bandage, so he asks if he also gave Noemí the tincture. She demands that he let her go.
Virgil blames Noemí, telling her that if she followed rules and conventions, this wouldn’t have happened. He’s attempting to guilt her into being less rebellious, and it seems to be working on Noemí. Virgil grabbing Noemí’s wrist is the first non-dream instance of violence between the two of them and represents an escalation in their relationship.
Themes
Sexism, Female Independence, and Power Theme Icon
While still clutching Noemí’s wrist, Virgil tells her that Florence was right: she deserves to be slapped. Noemí retorts that if anyone is going to be slapped, it would be Virgil. He laughs loudly at this, spilling his drink. He carelessly tosses his glass on the floor—it’s his to break if he chooses, like everything in this house. Virgil berates Noemí: does she think she’s the only one who cares about Catalina? He knows that Noemí’s father didn’t approve of their marriage; he didn’t think Virgil was a good match because the mine had closed. But Virgil is a Doyle, and it would be good of Noemí to remember that.
Virgil threatens to slap Noemí, and though she retorts, they both know that Virgil has the power to hit Noemí without repercussion. High Place is soon to be his house; he can break a glass if he wants to, and he can hit Noemí if he wants to. Next Virgil reveals that Noemí’s father didn’t approve of his marriage to Catalina. He’s taken this as an insult to his pride—like Florence, Virgil clings to the Doyle name despite the family’s declining wealth and esteem.
Themes
Sexism, Female Independence, and Power Theme Icon
Colonialism Theme Icon
Quotes
Virgil continues to reproach Noemí. By going behind the family’s back, she has acted selfishly, like a spoiled brat. And she hurt Virgil’s wife. Noemí feels both anger and shame; she hates the way that Virgil is speaking to her, but she’s done a foolish thing. Tears well in her eyes. Virgil’s voice wavers—Noemí nearly made him a widower tonight, so she must forgive him for not being very gracious. He asks her to leave Catalina’s care to Dr. Cummins from now on. There are many things that Noemí doesn’t understand, but she must believe that Catalina’s well-being is important to the family. He lingers at her side and then strides from the room.
Virgil’s reprimand of Noemí is full of contempt, but she doesn’t object because she knows that he’s correct. Noemí supplied the tonic that caused Catalina’s seizure, nearly killing her. Her mission is to rescue Catalina, and she’s nearly done the opposite.
Themes
Sexism, Female Independence, and Power Theme Icon