Hidden Money in Of Women and Salt: Survival, Escape, and Moral Temptation

The Symbol of Hidden Money in Of Women and Salt

In Of Women and Salt, hidden money appears as a recurring motif that ties together survival, escape, and moral temptation. The most concrete instance is the stack of cash Nancy keeps beneath a floorboard in her Irapuato home, which Ana discovers while working as a maid. But the motif also echoes through the novel's historical layers, as Jeanette's mother recounts how wealthy Cuban families hid cash and valuables in their walls before fleeing the revolution. These two households—Dolores's in Cuba and Nancy's in Mexico—frame the symbol's evolution from a practical tool of preservation to a source of ethical crisis.

The Literal Object: Floorboards and Walls

In Chapter 7, Ana learns that Nancy keeps a hidden stack of cash beneath a floorboard. The text describes this as one of Nancy's many habits that Ana observes: “That Nancy had a hidden stack of cash beneath a floorboard.” This money is not mentioned as being for any specific purpose; it simply exists as a secret reserve. Ana's knowledge of it comes from her intimate familiarity with Nancy's household, a familiarity born of her position as a maid's daughter who helps with chores.

The motif also appears in the historical context of Cuba. In Chapter 9, Jeanette's mother tells her that in the 1950s and '60s, wealthy Cuban families who plotted escape from the revolution “sometimes hid their valuables in the walls of their homes.” This included “stacked cash beneath the floorboards.” Jeanette's grandmother, Dolores, later found old books hidden in the walls of her house, a discovery that connects the family to this practice. While the books are not cash, they are valuable objects hidden in the same way, and Jeanette immediately thinks about selling one for money.

Thus, the symbol of hidden money is established both as a concrete object (Nancy's cash) and as a historical practice (Cuban families' hidden wealth). The recurrence across time and place suggests that hidden money is a persistent response to instability—whether political upheaval or personal uncertainty.

Meaning Shifts: From Preservation to Temptation

For the Cuban families of the 1950s, hidden money was a means of preserving wealth and enabling escape. The expectation was that the revolution would fail and they would return to reclaim their property. The hidden cash was a safety net, a way to maintain their privileged lives during a temporary disruption. This meaning is rooted in the idea of money as a tool for survival and eventual return.

In Nancy's household, the hidden money serves a different function. Nancy is a US-born English teacher living in Mexico, married to a Mexican man. She has enough wealth to keep a secret stash, but it is not tied to any explicit plan. It seems to be a private reserve, perhaps for emergencies or a way to maintain independence. The money is hidden from her husband, Roberto, just as she hides her affair and her smoking. It is part of her secret life, a symbol of her autonomy within a marriage that is strained.

For Ana, the hidden money becomes a moral temptation. When her mother Gloria becomes seriously ill and needs chemotherapy, Ana considers taking Nancy's money to pay for treatment. The text shows her internal calculation: “Money in the floorboard. Would chemo buy her more time? She could have taken it but she didn't.” Ana's decision not to take the money is driven by fear of discovery and the consequences: “If she took the money, and if Doña Nancy found out, then where would they go?” This moment transforms the hidden money from a passive object into an active ethical dilemma. It represents a potential solution to a life-threatening problem, but also a risk that could cost Ana and her mother their home and stability.

The meaning shifts again when Nancy abandons the money. Years later, Nancy discovers Roberto's affair, leaves Mexico overnight, and “left without the money, she didn't even remember the money, she was so angry.” This abandonment underscores the disparity between Nancy's relationship to money and Ana's. For Nancy, the hidden cash is so insignificant that she forgets it exists. For Ana, it was a matter of life and death. The money's fate—left behind, unremembered—highlights the vast inequality between the privileged woman who can afford to lose it and the impoverished family for whom it could have meant survival.

Character and Theme Connections

The hidden money motif is deeply tied to Ana and her relationship with her mother Gloria. Ana's decision not to steal the money is a pivotal moment in her character development. It shows her maturity and her understanding of the precariousness of their situation. She prioritizes their stability over her mother's life, a heartbreaking choice that reflects the impossible circumstances many migrant families face. This connects to the theme of mother-daughter relationships, as Ana's love for her mother is expressed through her sacrifice.

The motif also connects to class inequality and privilege. Nancy's hidden money is a symbol of her privilege—she has enough to hide cash without needing it, and she can forget it entirely. In contrast, Gloria and Ana live on the edge of survival, where even a small amount of money could make a difference. The hidden money thus becomes a tangible marker of the gap between those who have resources and those who do not.

For Jeanette, the hidden valuables in her grandmother's house evoke a different kind of temptation. In Chapter 9, Jeanette steals a rare book, thinking about how much money she could get for it. This act mirrors the hidden money motif, as Jeanette sees hidden valuables as a potential source of cash to support her addiction. The book is not money, but it is a hidden treasure that Jeanette converts into a potential financial resource. This connects to the theme of addiction and recovery, as Jeanette's desperation for money drives her to betray her family.

The historical dimension of hidden money also ties to migration and displacement. The Cuban families who hid cash were preparing for escape, just as Gloria and Ana are displaced from El Salvador to Mexico. The hidden money represents the hope of a better life elsewhere, but also the loss of home and the need to start over. In both cases, money is hidden as a way to navigate uncertain futures.

Study Questions

1. What does the hidden money represent for Ana in Chapter 7?

For Ana, the hidden money represents both a potential lifeline for her mother's medical treatment and a dangerous temptation. She considers taking it to pay for chemotherapy but ultimately decides against it because she fears discovery and losing their home. The money embodies the impossible choice between saving her mother and preserving their fragile stability.

1. How does the historical practice of hiding cash in Cuba differ from Nancy's hidden money?

In Cuba, hidden cash was a deliberate strategy by wealthy families to preserve wealth during political upheaval, often to fund escape. It was a calculated act of preservation. Nancy's hidden money, by contrast, is a casual secret stash, kept without apparent urgency or purpose. She eventually forgets it entirely, highlighting her privilege and the difference between survival-driven hiding and comfort-driven secrecy.

1. Why does Ana choose not to take the money, and what does this reveal about her character?

Ana chooses not to take the money because she calculates the risk: if Nancy discovers the theft, she and her mother would lose their home and any chance of stability. This decision shows Ana's maturity and her deep sense of responsibility for her mother's well-being, even at the cost of her mother's life. It reveals her understanding of the precariousness of their situation and her willingness to sacrifice for the sake of their future.

1. What does Nancy's abandonment of the money signify?

Nancy's abandonment of the money when she leaves Mexico in anger shows how her privilege allows her to treat money as disposable. Unlike Ana, who sees the money as a matter of life and death, Nancy can simply walk away from it, underscoring the vast inequality between them. The forgotten cash becomes a symbol of the careless power of the wealthy, who can afford to lose what others desperately need.