The narrator and main character often praises her late mother whom she admired and had a good relationship with. When the mom died she left the narrator a gold pin, the narrator often mentions how she'd rather have her mother's courage instead of a jewel no matter how precious it is.
In this story, once someone dies they pass on either human qualities or material stuff. Therefore the daughter is often frustrated because she believes her mom made the wrong choice when leaving her only a jewel when the courage she possesed is the quality she desires the most.
