"In Mythology, I am still reading about Medea and the quest for the Golden Fleece.  Here is someone that I recognize.  When Medea falls in love with Jason, it grabs me by the throat.  I can see her.  Medea sneaks Jason things to help him: ointments to make him invincible, secrets in rocks.  She has magic, could bend the natural to the unnatural.  But even with all her power, Jason bends her like a young pine in a hard wind; he makes her double in two.  I know her"(38). 

In this part of the book, Esch explains the relationship between Jason and Medea; how he uses her to succeed in his quest.  Esch brings up how she recognizes this section, for it seems familiar to her.  Esch is in the same situation as Medea, helplessly in love with someone who is using her for his own benefits.  Esch is a very strong, independent girl like Medea.  Her mother died when she was at a very young age, leaving her as the maternal figure of the household as she looks after her brothers and raises Junior.  Even though she is strong, she still allows Manny to take advantage of her, which is similar to the situation Medea is in.  Medea is a strong girl who has this magic power practically making her invincible, yet she gives them to Jason, allowing him to "bend her like a young pine in a hard wind"(38).  This passage shows that Esch realizes she is allowing Manny to take advantage of her, but she allows it anyway.  She knows Medea because she feels her pain, the pain that comes from loving someone that only uses you for their own benefits.




This oil painting depicts Medea giving Jason the magical ointment that would make him invincible while facing her father's challenges.  It was painted in 1907 by an English Painter named John William Waterhouse. 


This picture is of a beautiful white pit-bull, just like China in Salvage of the Bones.  Pit bulls are often seen as vicious fight dogs due to their strong built, and also that they are often bread for fighting.  Even though they are seen as vicious, put bulls are actually one of the best breads for families and make the best family dog.  They are protective, loyal, and look after every member with the same amount of care.  A pitbull represents Esch at the end of the book because she is strong to go through the challenges she faced throughout the book, all while caring for her family acting in the place of her mother.