Student Question
In Ana Castillo's So Far From God, why does Francisco commit suicide?
Quick answer:
Francisco commits suicide due to his obsessive fixation on Caridad, which becomes both a physical and spiritual obsession. He believes Caridad is his spiritual reward and is devastated by her death. After abducting and raping Esmeralda, whom Caridad loves, Francisco is deeply affected when Caridad and Esmeralda jump off a mesa together. Overwhelmed by the loss and his actions, Francisco hangs himself.
Francisco el Penitente becomes obsessed with Caridad; the loss he feels following her suicide prompts him to take his own life.
Francisco's fixation on Caridad is both physical and spiritual obsession. He believes that Caridad is his reward for spiritual commitment and finds that he is increasingly drawn to her. In chapter 12, Francisco begins stalking her and is surprised to learn that Caridad leaves her home at night and doesn't return until morning.
Determined, Francisco intensifies his stalking efforts. He follows Caridad night after night, finding that she parks outside the same house each night but remains in her own truck. Caridad is aware that Francisco has been following her nightly, but she identifies with his feelings of longing and desperation.
The conflict intensifies when Francisco abducts and rapes Esmeralda, the woman whom Caridad longs to be with. Following the attack, Esmeralda and Caridad escape to the home of Esmeralda's grandmother. When they realize that Francisco has followed them, the women hold hands as they jump off the edge of a mesa.
Francisco is so distraught by the loss that he leaves and hangs himself.
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