Maria Concepcion,` Katherine Anne Porter (paragraphs 1-5)

Mexican garb Her facial features , black eyes , shaped like almonds , set far apart also confirms her Latin descent . Behavioral characteristics such as her inability to read and her staunch Christian faith classifies Maria Concpcion within the context of her environment , where women are mostly known for taking on hard , menial tasks foremost and education a non-consideration , yet disciplined in the conventions of religion . Her religiosity is also further alluded to by her having no faith in the numerous medical remedies and ointments made by Lupe , the town 's medicine woman . Maria

Concepcion is also specified as being eighteen years of age , like her husband , and is pregnant - but the trait of being able to drive a bargain to the end ' hints at her strong character and personality , one who would sooner defy the parameters of the traditionalist society already subtly revealed in the story 's first paragraphs

The mentions of Maria Rosa , the pretty , shy child only fifteen years old , and her godmother Lupe suggest how these two characters will figure in the story , and in the exact contexts . Maria 's own serenity and contentment , mostly caused by her physical condition and the concept of her husband Jun , are also foreshadowing devices that work with the described beauty of Maria Rosa . The statement of Maria Concepcion 's good reputation with the neighbors ' implies her status within the community , which is indirectly referred to towards the end of the story with the neighbors being sure of her crime yet allowed her to get away with it - also perhaps a collective judgment of the injustice committed against her by Juan and Maria Rosa

Finally , the of Lupe 's charred owl bones , the singed rabbit fur , the cat entrails ' almost eerily connotes Maria Concepcion 's murder of Maria Rosa , under the sharp knife...