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Symbolism and Resilience in “My Grandmother Smoked Cigars” by Ulibarri Essay

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Character of the Grandmother

The grandmother of the narrator, who acts as the story’s main character, is portrayed in “My Grandmother Smoked Cigars” in rich and extensive detail. The text is heavily replete with references to love, tenacity, and strength. The grandmother is shown as a tough woman who, with steadfast drive, runs the ranch and a vast family. Her capacity to remain calm and assertive amid countless difficulties and disasters is a constant motif.

A beautiful image of the grandma and her late husband’s continuing link is the transition of the cigar from a sign of power and control into an object of affection. The grandmother’s black suit, which stands for her seriousness and formality throughout the narrative, and the cigars, which go from representations of authority and power to tools of love and connection, are examples of symbols. The grandmother’s photo also represents her power and enigmatic character.

Symbolism of Cigars

“I am convinced that my grandmother and my grandfather developed a mystical connection there in the smoke, in the solitude and silence, with the taste and smell of tobacco” (Ulibarri 683). This passage emphasizes the cigar’s evolution as a symbol and how it reunites the grandma with her deceased husband. This emphasizes the theme of love and resilience and refers to the depth of her love and how she handles her loss. The grandma and the storyteller are the central characters. I think that the grandmother’s habit of smoking cigars by herself, which she uses as a method of connection with her deceased husband, is one of the behaviors that stand out.

Lessons from the Story

The narrative endearingly portrays the narrator’s grandmother, highlighting the lessons of fortitude, love, and resiliency. It also emphasizes that everyone deals with loss and misfortune in their own way and that these coping strategies may offer a wealth of information about the minds of those who use them. The grandmother is presented as having a complicated personality who is strong-willed, formal, and passionate, and the narrator takes on the role of an observer and admirer of the grandmother. I believe, this narrative sheds light on personal strength, distinctive coping strategies, the complexity of love and family, and the passing of time.

Work Cited

Ulibarri, Sabine L. My Grandma Smoked Cigars. 1977.

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"Symbolism and Resilience in “My Grandmother Smoked Cigars” by Ulibarri." IvyPanda, 20 Mar. 2025, ivypanda.com/essays/symbolism-and-resilience-in-my-grandmother-smoked-cigars-by-ulibarri/.

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IvyPanda. 2025. "Symbolism and Resilience in “My Grandmother Smoked Cigars” by Ulibarri." March 20, 2025. https://ivypanda.com/essays/symbolism-and-resilience-in-my-grandmother-smoked-cigars-by-ulibarri/.

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