Revelation and rebirth in The Moths by Helena Viramonte The famous phrase "appearances are deceiving" refers strongly to Helena Viramontes' short story, "The Moths". The story, rather than focusing on the creatures of the title, is actually about a young girl coming of age while dealing with the deterioration and death of her grandmother. Although the title "The Moths" seems to have no relevance at first, these creatures help to portray a sense of spirituality, of rebirth and ultimately become an embodiment of the grandmother. The relationship between the moths and the main characters helps convey the main theme of the story, which is not simply the death of a loved one, but a spiritual and maturing experience experienced by the grandson. The moths help illustrate a sense of spirituality in this short story. Abuelita, the grandmother, uses ancient remedies of a religious/spiritual nature to cure physical illnesses such as scarlet fever and other ailments. Her granddaughter is very disrespectful and dubious of the medicines her grandmother used, but they always work. The granddaughter tells us that “Abuelita made a balm from dried moth wings… [to] reshape my hands” (Viramontes 1239). In this way the granddaughter begins to accept faith and spiritual hope. Spirituality is not only present in Moth Wing Balm, but is also evident after the death of the grandmother. A sense of spirituality is evident in the quote: "Then came the moths. Little gray moths that came out of his soul and out through his mouth fluttering into the light" (1242). This presents a religious parallel where the light resembles the sky. These moths represent the angels who carry Abuelit......to the center of the card ......being comfort to her granddaughter when she is at her grandmother's house (1239). Abuelita is her granddaughter's guardian angel or moth: she shows her the light. He cures her illnesses, instills values ​​in her and brings religion into her life. She is the reason her grandson undergoes such spiritual and emotional maturation. It is clearly evident that "The Moths" is not only the title, but also an important piece of the story that embodies its central theme. The moths become the catalyst that gives identity to the grandmother and granddaughter, bringing revelation, security, rebirth and the desire to reunite. The grandmother, becoming a moth herself, leaves part of herself to her grandson. Works Cited Viramontes, Helena. "The moths." The Harper Fiction Anthology. Ed. Silvano Barnet. New York: HarperCollins, 1991. 1239- 1242.