René Girard have interpreted the recurrence of rain in the novel as one of the purifying rituals the community must undergo in order to wash away the contagion of violence . The fiestas may represent another ritual of purification and also symbolize war . Fiestas are held to honour the General when he arrive at a town , but at other times , political demonstrations against the General are mistaken for a fiesta . According to Rodríguez Vergara , this show how " information is manipulated " and " depict an atmosphere where fiesta and war are synonymous " .