Alberta+Simonds


 * **Character Name** || Alberta Simonds ||
 * **Role in Plot** || Alberta Simonds, Bayardo San Roman’s mother, is a “big mulatto woman from Curaçao” (33), an island off the Venezuelan coast. She speaks Spanish “with a mixture of Papiamento” (33), the language spoken in Curaçao. When she was younger, Simonds had been “proclaimed the most beautiful of the two hundred most beautiful women in the Antilles” (33), and this positive trait emphasizes the image of perfection that Bayardo’s family gives. In addition, the juxtaposition of Alberta’s beauty with General Roman’s distinction as the “main attraction” (33) portray the General in an even more positive light. ||
 * **Significance of Name in Work** || The name //Alberta//, which is of French origin, means “noble and famous”, and this meaning corresponds with Alberta Simonds’ proclamation as the most beautiful woman in the Antilles, a proclamation that entails fame and greatness. The entire Bayardo family projects an image of nobility, especially considering the General’s status. The name //Simonds// is a variation of the name //Simon//, which means “gracious hearing”. //Simon// is a name given to many characters in the Bible, including the man who carried the cross for Jesus as well as the apostle who came to be known as Peter (who is traditionally recognized as the rock upon which the Church is built upon). Both Biblical characters indicate some degree of solidness, perhaps implying that Alberta Simonds is, like Purisima del Carmen, the solid yet understated backbone of her family. ||
 * **Student's Name** || David Su ||