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The Symbolism of Black and Cigars in Sabine R. Ulibarri’s “My Grandma Smoked Cigars” Essay

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Symbolism of Black

Sabine R. Ulibarri’s story titled “My Grandma Smoked Cigars” features two important symbols: a black color and a cigar. The black color appears when the narrator’s grandmother is described, symbolizing her toughness. According to Ulibarri, “she was strong” and “always dressed in black” even before becoming a widow, which suggests that toughness is part of her actual character (682).

Ulibarri describes his grandmother as “a black silhouette on a blue background” (682). The contrast between the two colors might highlight the uniqueness of such inner strength in an ordinary woman. On another occasion, during a fire, black smoke emerges from the grandmother’s house, but she has no “tears, whimpers, or laments” and keeps giving orders calmly (Ulibarri 684). Therefore, black objects can be associated with the grandmother’s enormous psychological strength.

Symbolism of Cigars

Next, a cigar serves as a complex symbol of some traditionally masculine psychological qualities, such as power and the right to make decisions. As the narrator explicitly reveals, a cigar in his grandfather’s hand would usually mean the power of a patron (Ulibarri 682). Additionally, according to the narrator’s memories, his grandfather often gave other people his cigars to react to their good services (Ulibarri 682). It would be perceived as an opportunity to feel the patron’s power (Ulibarri 682). In other words, providing someone with a cigar would involve some decision-making power connected to evaluating and rewarding people.

At the same time, in another person’s hands, a cigar symbolizes love, grief, and connection to the deceased person through memories. Once the narrator’s grandfather died, his widow developed a habit of lighting and smoking cigars (Ulibarri 682). In her case, a cigar’s initial symbolic meaning changed to a more sentimental option, with cigars symbolizing her strong connection to her loved spouse. In the story, the grandmother did not appreciate just the physical sensations associated with smoking tobacco (Ulibarri 683). Instead, cigars could be viewed as the means to support her mystical communication with her husband.

Work Cited

Ulibarri, Sabine R. “My Grandma Smoked Cigars.” Translated by Thelma Campbell Nason. The Norton Anthology of Latino Literature, edited by Ilan Stavans, W.W. Norton & Company, 2011, pp. 680-685.

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"The Symbolism of Black and Cigars in Sabine R. Ulibarri’s “My Grandma Smoked Cigars”." IvyPanda, 20 Mar. 2025, ivypanda.com/essays/the-symbolism-of-black-and-cigars-in-sabine-r-ulibarris-my-grandma-smoked-cigars/.

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IvyPanda. (2025) 'The Symbolism of Black and Cigars in Sabine R. Ulibarri’s “My Grandma Smoked Cigars”'. 20 March. (Accessed: 22 March 2025).

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IvyPanda. 2025. "The Symbolism of Black and Cigars in Sabine R. Ulibarri’s “My Grandma Smoked Cigars”." March 20, 2025. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-symbolism-of-black-and-cigars-in-sabine-r-ulibarris-my-grandma-smoked-cigars/.

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