Mexican Gothic

by

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Mexican Gothic: Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Florence guides Noemí from her bedroom to the dining room downstairs. The walls are lined with cabinets crammed full of dinnerware—cups, plates, trays, and vases all bearing the stylized D of the Doyles, though all the silver looks tarnished and dull. Francis is waiting for them, and the two women sit down. A maid serves a sweet, dark wine and chicken in a creamy mushroom sauce. Noemí tries to make conversation with Francis, but Florence quickly silences them both. She explains that it’s customary not to speak during dinner; they appreciate silence in the house.
The Doyles had their initial emblazoned on their silver—silver that was mined by indigenous people on Mexican land. This shows how much of their identity depends on colonial privilege. Additionally, the emphasis on silence indicates that in this house one is expected to silently adhere to convention—something that will prove difficult for Noemí.
Themes
Sexism, Female Independence, and Power Theme Icon
Colonialism Theme Icon
Virgil and Howard walk into the dining room, and Howard tells Florence that tonight they can make some conversation for the sake of their guest. Howard looks ancient: wrinkles gouge his face, a few white hairs cling to his skull, and his skin is incredibly pale. When she sees him Noemí thinks he looks like an underground creature—a slug, perhaps. The one thing about him that doesn’t appear bleached of color is his startling blue eyes, unimpeded by cataracts and undimmed by age. Howard sits at the head of the table, and Virgil sits on his right.
Howard makes it clear that he sets the rules in the house; he dictates when speaking is allowed. When Noemí first saw High Place she though it looked like the shell of a snail, and now, seeing Howard for the first time, she thinks that he looks like a slug. He fits his surroundings.
Themes
Sexism, Female Independence, and Power Theme Icon
Noemí introduces herself to Howard, who returns the courtesy. Howard then remarks on Noemí’s skin color, saying that she’s much darker than Catalina. Noemí is taken aback, so Howard points at her and repeats himself. He supposes that, unlike Catalina, Noemí’s skin color reflects her Indian heritage, rather than her French. Noemí explains that Catalina’s mother was from France, while both her parents are from Mexico. She’s irritated and asks Howard what his point is. Howard replies that he is merely making observations.
Howard’s immediate impulse is to examine Noemí through the lens of his pseudo-science, eugenics. He ignores Noemí’s obvious discomfort and continues to question her, revealing how little he cares about her feelings.
Themes
Sexism, Female Independence, and Power Theme Icon
Colonialism Theme Icon
Howard reveals his interest in eugenics and then asks for Noemí’s opinion on “the intermingling of superior and inferior types.” He ignores Noemí’s obvious discomfort, as does the rest of the family, who sit in silence and listen to their conversation. Luckily, Noemí has experience dealing with irritating men—they do not easily fluster her. She knows that showing any type of reaction will only embolden Howard. She retorts that she once read a paper by anthropologist Manuel Gamio, who argued that indigenous people have benefitted from harsh natural selection, and that Europeans would benefit from intermingling with them. It turns the white superior and inferior idea around, she notes.
Here Howard makes clear his belief in white supremacy, an idea that fueled many colonial undertakings. Noemí parries his racist remarks, though, showing that she’s both quite intelligent and capable of dealing with arrogant men. 
Themes
Sexism, Female Independence, and Power Theme Icon
Colonialism Theme Icon
Quotes
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Howard smiles, as though he’s pleased with Noemí’s answer. He quotes another anthropologist, saying that there is an “aesthetic taste” that shapes natural selection—beauty attracts beauty and begets beauty. He calls Noemí an example of this, and encourages her to accept this compliment, because he does not compliment people often. Then Howard asks Francis to help him up, since he’s tired and wishes to go to bed. The two leave, and silence settles over the dining room again. Soon Virgil invites Noemí to the sitting room, saying that he imagines she must have some questions for him.
Howard’s version of natural selection seems especially ghoulish. Rather than being based on survival traits, Howard sees physical beauty as the main reason that species survive. At a time when men hold all the power in society, Howard’s obsession with beauty (and the way that he leers at Noemí) portrays him as being predatory and creepy.
Themes
Sexism, Female Independence, and Power Theme Icon
Noemí and Virgil sit on stately armchairs in a large, dusty chamber. Virgil fills two glasses with the dark, sweet wine from dinner and gives one to Noemí. This room is better illuminated than the rest of the house, so Noemí is finally able to take a good look at Virgil. She calculates how best to act. Boys her age are easy to flatter, but Virgil is older than her. She must act seriously. He has authority here, but Noemí has authority, too—she is an envoy for her father, after all.
Noemí’s been in society long enough to know how best to manipulate men. Though this is a type of power, Noemí’s actual authority stems only from her father, showing the limitations she’s under in a patriarchal society.
Themes
Sexism, Female Independence, and Power Theme Icon
The two begin conversing. Noemí explains that her father is very concerned about Catalina, which is why she came to visit. She tells Virgil that Catalina’s diagnosis of tuberculosis does not explain the alarming letter that she wrote. Virgil tries to pacify Noemí by claiming that Catalina wrote the letter while her fever was at its peak, but Noemí doesn’t buy it. She asks what doctor is treating Catalina and demands to meet him. Virgil acquiesces, saying that their doctor, Arthur Cummins, comes by every Thursday to see Catalina and Howard. Noemí can speak to him then.
Virgil’s explanation matches Catalina’s explanation. Perhaps this is because it’s the truth, or maybe it means that Virgil has been coaching Catalina. Either way, Noemí believes that speaking to the doctor will reveal the truth.
Themes
Sexism, Female Independence, and Power Theme Icon
The pair continue to chat in the sitting room. Virgil’s tone softens, and Noemí begins to think he might not be as hostile as she first thought. They talk about the house, and Virgil comments that Catalina finds the house’s reliance on candlelight romantic. This gives Noemí pause; Catalina has always loved Gothic novels, and High Place does seem like the kind of home that she would find enchanting. Perhaps her illness really was nothing more than a fever.
Noemí begins to question whether anything is truly wrong. Yet, rather than basing her doubt in a belief that Catalina is melodramatic or hysterical, Noemí’s doubt is based in Catalina’s passion for the Gothic.
Themes
Sexism, Female Independence, and Power Theme Icon
Quotes
Virgil offers to pour Noemí another glass of wine. She already feels the effects of the drink, and Virgil’s hand brushes against hers as he moves to refill it. Noemí tells Virgil that she’s had enough, but he insists. She notices a new vitality in his face, as if he’s found something that he’s interested in. Noemí, however, flatly refuses another glass, so Virgil escorts her to her bedroom so she can go to sleep.
Unlike Francis, Virgil is suave and handsome—the type of man that Noemí would typically go out with. This moment marks the beginning of some romantic tension between them.
Themes
Nature vs. Love Theme Icon