Final answer:
Flashbacks in Oscar Casares’ short story are used to reveal Mrs. Perez's character and the complexity of her situation with a stolen item, enriching the narrative and offering deeper insight into the plot.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Oscar Casares’ short story, the author utilizes flashbacks as a plot device to enrich the narrative. Rather than simply introducing new characters or providing a chronological sequence of events, flashbacks are used to delve deeper into Mrs. Perez’s character. Through this technique, the author reveals her complexities and her moral quandary about the possession of a stolen item. This method not only creates an emotional connection to the character but also cleverly advances the plot by adding depth to the story context, rather than creating suspense or withholding the outcome.
Effective storytelling often involves strategic structuring, and in this case, the flashbacks serve to illuminate significant past experiences that shape the characters' present actions and decisions. The author's choice in employing this device helps engage readers more fully by making the narrative non-linear, thus evoking curiosity as to how these past events affect the unfolding storyline. This layering of time frames can produce a richer, more textured understanding of the plot and the individuals within it.