Heart
The narrator recounts, “It (the carriage) had been sent to Veracruz by my long-time friend, the Count of Revilla Gigedo. He dispatched the carriage so that I might travel in comfort and splendour to the seat of power, the capital of New Spain and the heart of his world.” The allegorical heart renders the Capital a symbolically material location in the Count’s administrative undertakings. The Count’s authority is embodied by the capital.
Contagious
The physician confirms, “He (The King of Spain) was well aware that the French revolutionary emotion was contagious and that the success of the United States independence movement would affect the future direction of the Empire. The people of the colonies had to be convinced that they were better off living as part of the Empire than separate from it.” The allegorical contagiousness alludes to the probable Ripple Effect of American’s liberation which would enthuse colonies such as Mexico to struggle for their liberation from Spain.
Monster
Father Jude informs the physician, “a great plague has erupted and poisoned our populace. It has ravaged the country and it is now moving into the capital. We have applied all medical knowledge in vain. The monster spreads and horribly kills our people. It first attacked the Indians and now it infects the Spaniards. The disease takes everyone regardless of sex, race, age or rank.” The rhetorical monster emphasizes the massive jeopardy which the plague has stimulated. Its colossal enormousness is a hazard to the survival of the colony for subjects must be endures for them to be governed.
