Personification is often used especially with the object of fire. The author shows fire as Jeanette‘s emotions and reasoning for why she was the way she is but also conveys an ongoing theme of her upbringing. The fire adds Jeannette‘s fascination with fire and chaos. I think that it helped me understand Jeanette‘s upbringing and identity better. I think that the fire stands for Jeanette never knowing whether her family had done more good then harm