How does Remedios symbolize the tension between Santiago’s past and its present?

Magical realism blurs the line between fantasy and reality. What do the fantastical elements of A Place Where the Sea Remembers add to the narrative? How would the novel be different without these magical elements?

The residents of Santiago live in a patriarchal society. How is this evident in the gendered roles enacted by the different characters? How is it demonstrated in their relationships with each other? Do any of them overcome or subvert these social expectations? If so, how?