While Vivi was not a perfect mother, Wells does not blame her as a mother. One of the dominant motifs in the novel focuses on the contrast between the spirit and the law. Sister Solange and Sister Fermin take very different approaches to teaching Vivi. The Ya-Yas and Buggy have very different ideas as to what makes a statue of the Virgin Mary beautiful. The Ya-Yas and the Catholic Church have very different ideas as to where Genevieve can be buried.
Religious imagery abounds in the novel.
The young Ya-Yas prick their fingers and drink each other's blood and experience a communion. Sidda baptizes herself. Why might Wells rely so heavily on religious imagery to describe everyday experiences. One of the themes of the novel is the necessity of and the difficulty of personal growth. Vivi is a tangled, charismatic, and haunted character.