Setbacks are inevitable in life. The strength that emerges out of the ashes of these setbacks defines the future of the person. Virgil Suárez’s “Dearly Beloved” and Judith Ortiz Cofer’s “Under the Knife” both represent strong female characters that have accepted and persevered through the hardships of life and relationships; these obstacles have allowed these characters to become stronger female centers of their family support system. “Dearly Beloved” by Virgil Suárez begins with Pilar sitting on a divan, a sofa, watching a Hispanic soap opera called El Maldito, or The Damned, with her son-in-law, Armando. Her pregnant daughter, Julia, is out of the house, picking up pizza, to satisfy her pregnancy cravings. Julia and Armando have recently reconnected after…show more content… While Armando is the character that is perpetuating the conversation, the story would not exist without the controversy of Pilar’s failed marriage. Armando’s need to feel honorable as a man and provide for his unborn child has brought him back to his wife. He feels so uncomfortable with the situation because he equates himself with Gustavo and spends the whole story trying to convince Pilar that he is not the same as her former husband. She, however, feels Armando may walk away and fears her daughter will live a lonely life. She doesn’t want Julia to live in loneliness, like she has had to since Gustavo’s departure. Pilar exemplifies strength by allowing her daughter to deal with her marriage on her own. She believes that “Julia can take care of herself” (Suárez 182) like she, Pilar, has taken care of herself since Gustavo left. While hurt, as the center of the family she is still a sturdy standing pillar, supporting her daughter with whatever she has to deal with, knowing that she is strong enough to handle anything. As Pilar knows Julia will be okay, regardless of her relationship’s outcome, she also knows that she herself will be fine as
