About the Author
Who was the author?
Rosario Ferre
When and where does the story take place?
Early twentieth century in Puerto Rico
What do the dolls represent?
The the objectification of women in society
What did the aunt do as a way to pass the time?
She rocked on the porch and made dolls for her nieces.
Where was she born?
Ponce, Puerto Rico
What was the plantation economy based on?
Sugar cane, tobacco, and coffee
What does the prawn represent?
The doctor and husband who feed off and benefit from the aunt and the niece.
What did the doctor buy with the doll's eyes?
Why did Ferre begin reading fairy tales?
To escape the atmosphere of sadness as her mother mourned the death of her uncle.
Why did the economy change in the beginning of the 1940s?
Foreign investors developed manufacturing industries on the island.
What did the balcony represent?
The restrictive lives that the aunt and niece had to lead
What did the doctor first prescribe to her after the prawn bit her?
a mustard plaster
What did this story reveal about the author?
What year was Puerto Rico ceded to the United States?
1898
What does the removal of the doll's eyes represent?
The women failing or refusing to see the injustices being done to them in the society they lived in.
How many dolls did the aunt have in her collection?
126