Because we just haven't talked about Beli enough

There has been a lot of discussion in class about Beli and I thought I would throw in my two cents. I am actually in defense of Beli. Most of the class has held a negative opinion of her, but I see her as a good mother; maybe not the nicest or most compassionate, but good in her intentions.

As far as her lass then kind attitude with her children, I think it all is her method of “tough love.” It’s been suggested by others in the class that Beli’s surly approach to parenting is her attempt at doing the complete opposite of what La Inca did. Because La Inca was not very strict and allowed Beli to get away with inappropriate behavior, Beli ended up getting pregnant, beaten up, and abandoned. Though it was not all La Inca’s fault Beli could have seen it that way, so her controlling manner is just an attempt to save her children, especially Lola, from her own mistakes.

Beli’s relationship with Lola is probably the most controlling between her two children. When Lola runs away to be with Aldo, it would be natural for Beli to connect that to her past when she left to be with the gangster. She wanted to save her from that future in any way possible. Also, when Beli sees Lola for the first time in fourteen months she says “Cono, pero tú sí eres fea.” (Díaz 208). This is a very harsh and disheartening statement from mother to daughter. However, was Beli’s beauty not the thing that got her in so much trouble? Possibly, she was trying to keep Lola’s self confidence low so she would not use her sexuality like Beli did.

Also, I think Beli was ultimately trying to help them deal with the fukú in their future. She knew they would have to face the curse of their family, so she tried to prepare them. Beli was not the best mother, but she was just trying the best she knew how. Did she not do a pretty good job in the end? She did put both of her children through college on a single mother’s wages. I never questioned her love as a mother, just her capability of kindness.