The Strega... What do we know?
The Strega.
Where is She from?
Is She a Witch?
Why is she in the story?
What does she symbolize?
Does She Care about Serafina?
Serafina has imported some of her Sicialian superstitions and grafted them onto the Strega. Her daughter explains that "the evil eye" Serafina sees is really just cataracts and that "shaking hands with the devil" is arthritis.
Serafina's attitude towards her illustrates how backward she is. Her daughter wants her to open the blinds and let it some reality.