Why Isabel Allende’s works of literature should be studied in college?
Isabel Allende is a writer that offers the reader a different writing style. Isabel has had experiences that no other writer has had. Isabel has been able to use her imagination to tell her personal life in a way that is appealing to the reader. Isabel is a Chilean that was born in Peru. When asked about her childhood, she described it as “absolutely miserable”; even though her childhood was “miserable” she succeeded and became one of the most influential Latin American writers (Bertodano). Isabel’s works of literature have the power to inspire and teach college students a different writing style and culture.
Isabel’s past is full of tragedy and sadness due to her family’s connections to the Chilean government. Isabel traveled to Chile with her mother after her parents got divorced. Isabel’s life improved significantly after she got married and got herself a reputation as a successful journalist. All of it changed after her uncle, Chilean president Salvador Allende, was killed. The persecution against Salvador’s family and friends led to the "creation” of Isabel Allende. Isabel’s first book “The House of Spirits” became a worldwide bestseller. Isabel had to overcome many obstacles living in Venezuela. Isabel got herself out of her own exile. Isabel was able to write “The House of Spirits” thanks to her grandfather who she could not see, because of her exile. Allende’s grandfather was dying. Isabel started writing a letter to her “dad” knowing that he was not going to read it. Isabel said “I think I write fiction but I don’t” This summarizes how Isabel’s writing style has a different approach to literature. She uses something that is more realistic and appea...
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...books are vivid stories of what she had to go through in order to get where she wanted to be. Students would beneficiate from Isabel’s willingness to overcome whatever obstacle was on her road to success. The house of Spirits gave Isabel “freedom.” In her first novel, she expresses her dislike for dictatorship. Chile got divided, when Augusto Pinochet came to power. Overall Isabel’s stories are unique, because they reveal what countries like Chile go through when they overthrow the president. Isabel’s stories have positive reviews because they are relatable; she is not the only one that left Chile. Isabel has written tragic stories about her life that leaves the reader grateful and exhilarated (qtd. in “Paula”). Isabel’s creativity could help educate college students about the role of women in today’s society, Chile’s culture, and a different approach to literature.
Julia Alvarez’s novel, Before We Were Free is about the struggles of a young girl named Anita de la Torre who is under the evil dictatorship of Trujillo. Papi, Anita’s father and Tio Toni, Anita’s uncle are conspirators in a plan to assassinate Trujillo they succeed with the assassination, but then, unfortunately, get arrested and killed later. The excitement and drama created by Trujillo and the effects it has on Anita make an interesting novel, but the authors use of literary devices truly make the novel come to life. Julia Alvarez author of Before We Were Free, uses literary devices such as metaphors, symbolism, and motif to strengthen her writing and help the reader comprehend the novel. Before Papi and Tio Toni start executing their plan
Symbolism is the key to understanding Sandra Cisneros’ novel, “The House on Mango Street”. By unraveling the symbolism, the reader truly exposes the role of not only Latina women but women of any background. Esperanza, a girl from a Mexican background living in Chicago, writes down what she witnesses while growing up. As a result of her sheltered upbringing, Esperanza hardly comprehends the actions that take place around her, but what she did understand she wrote in her journal. Cisneros used this technique of the point of view of a child, to her advantage by giving the readers enough information of what is taking place on Mango Street so that they can gather the pieces of the puzzle a get the big picture.
Women are seen as failure and can’t strive without men in the Mexican-American community. In this novel you can see a cultural approach which examines a particular aspect of a culture and a gender studies approach which examines how literature either perpetuates or challenges gender stereotypes. Over and over, Esperanza battled with how people perceived her and how she wished to be perceived. In the beginning of the book, Esperanza speaks of all the times her family has moved from one place to another. “Before that we lived on Loomis on the third floor, and before that we lived on Keeler.
This novel is a story of a Chicano family. Sofi, her husband Domingo together with their four daughters – Esperanza, Fe, Caridad, and Loca live in the little town of Tome, New Mexico. The story focuses on the struggles of Sofi, the death of her daughters and the problems of their town. Sofi endures all the hardships and problems that come her way. Her marriage is deteriorating; her daughters are dying one by one. But, she endures it all and comes out stronger and more enlightened than ever. Sofi is a woman that never gives up no matter how poorly life treats her. The author- Ana Castillo mixes religion, super natural occurrences, sex, laughter and heartbreak in this novel. The novel is tragic, with no happy ending but at the same time funny and inspiring. It is full of the victory of the human spirit. The names of Sofi’s first three daughters denote the three major Christian ideals (Hope, Faith and Charity).
? . . . it made no difference if they studied medicine or had the right to vote, because they would not have the strength to do it, but she herself [Nivea] was not brave enough to be among the first to give up the fashion.? (6, Ch 1) The women in this society are dependant on the dominant male figure to handle political and economical duties. This point of view is intended to mimic the older generation of women ad present a foundation for the growth of an enlightened generation. Allende uses this excerpt to present a foundation of structure to the novel by beginning with the extremes of opinion, which are followed in the novel through different generations. Alba for example, become a very outspoken activist by trying to attend the student protests and follow Miguel on his demonstrations, a sharp contrast to the indifference or shallowness found in her great grandmother.
Elena Poniatowska escrita durante una epoca de cambio en Mexico. Antes de sus obras las mujeres mexicanas eran sometidos, docil, y pasivo. En la tiempo de sus obras las mujeres estaba tratando salir de los estereotipos de antes. Esta problema social tomo un afecto en Elena. Aunque ella no viene de un movimiento literatura directamente, ella escrita con el concepto de compremetido. En su narrative El Recado ella crea un mujer estereotipical que no puede controlar sus emociones. La titula es eso porque ella viene a ver su amante, pero el no esta, asi ella escribe las cosas que sentia. La perspectiva es de un personaje y ella nunca interacta con otros personajes. En facto la unica descripcion de un personaje otro de la protagonista es de su amante Martin. Habla de otros personajes, pero solamente de sus acciones. Porque ellas es la unica perspectiva que tenemos es sencillo a sentar compasion para una protagonista de quien nombre no aun sabemos. Ella da la descripcion de toda que vea, y mas importante todo que se sienta. Tambien tropos y figuras retoricas dan un tono significante al poema. Estos sentimientos de la portagonista y el tono emocional de la narrativa transporta una tema de una mujer estereotipical y debil quien quiere ser reconocido.
The House of the Spirits written by Isabel Allende is an extraordinary novel that weaves together, history, politics, and current events to create a unique piece of literature. Throughout the novel on several occasions it is clear that there is inequality between the aristocrats and the peasants and this leads to struggle between the classes. The issue of class struggle takes the form of growing conflict by causing a division between the Conservatives and Socialists. At the head of the Conservatives is Esteban Trueba, a violent and materialistic figure. He believes people need to work their way up to the top and there is no reason that peasants share the upper classes wealth. On the other hand, Pedro Tercero Garcia represents the Socialistic view and he is willing to make the change through revolutionary principles. As the novel progresses class differences begin to build up and result in a political struggle between the Conservatives and Socialists thereby impacting the society in a negative way and causing it to rip to shreds.
Many reviews have been written on Julia Alvarez since she is a Dominican Diaspora, a Jew who lived outside of Israel, who wrote in a Latina perspective in the country of Uni...
Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits was strongly influenced by the three waves of Feminism. Allende’s focus throughout the novel was to diminish the gender inequality between men and women. Through her female characters Clara, Blanca, and Alba, Allende showcases the gradual rise of women in Latin American society. She incorporates political and societal aspects to emphasize women’s empowerment throughout the novel. Clara, Blanca, and Alba each individually represent the three waves of Feminism that gradually gave women the power to lessen the gender hierarchy present in their society.
Isabel Allende adds many different characters in order to create mood (this is too general, what do you mean mood, what kind of mood? I have a feeling your teacher will take points off for this) in the novel House of Spirits. Though women overpower the men in this novel, one strong male figure is the center of attention; Esteban Trueba is a dogmatic tyrant that remains sadistic throughout the passage. There is a glimpse into Esteban Trueba’s personality and appearance, only leading to his arrogance and domineering lifestyle. (awkward sentence, are you trying to say the book provides a glimpse into Esteban? and how does that lead to his arrogance and domineering
Isabel Allende’s novel, Eva Luna, amalgamates many of the techniques and conventions associated with the picaresque tradition, magical realism and bildungsroman in order to present a critique of dominant Eurocentric ideologies of the patriarchy and oligarchy in 20th century Latin America and to valorize the voices and experiences of the marginalized and oppressed. A prominent aspect of Eva Luna which acts as a vehicle for the novels critique of the patriarchal oligarchy are the numerous motifs and symbols utilized throughout the novel. The manner in which Allende introduces and develops symbols and motifs throughout the novel functions to set up a number of oppositions which portray a sense of loss of freedom and expression under the oppression of the colonizing oligarchy, illustrate the superficiality of oligarchic power and align the reader with expression over silence and transgression above oppression.
The routes to cultural connections and bonds are imperative in the formation of an individual’s rooted identity. Edwidge Danticat’s Breath, Eyes, Memory uses the process of cultivating the Caco women’s past female experiences, in relation to the Haitian tradition of testing, to contrast its effect on them with that of Sophie’s. Danticat uses her personal experience as the start for her understanding of self. In Christina Garcia’s Dreaming in Cuban, Pilar Puente’s Cuban heritage requires the recordation of her family’s history as a necessary route in creating an identity through shared maternal bonds. Paule Marshall’s Praisesong for the Widow narrates the reconnection of Avey Johnson to her cultural teachings from Aunt Cuney through a spiritual experience while on the island of Carriacou. A female elder serves as a vehicle that offers a connection with their cultural tradition through which the protagonist identity is dependent on. The interlocking of a specific cultural practice and its relation to cultural awareness is seen in the narration of these three novels.
Women are known for soft and kind traits that give them either a caring or motherly character. These traits may present themselves in harsh actions but are usually out of good nature that causes change in some form. In Isabel Allende’s novel The House of the Spirits, women are better at causing long lasting changes in family and relationships through soft actions. These changes are demonstrated through three generations of the Trueba family; Clara the clairvoyant, Blanca, and little Alba.
Clarice Lispector, a Brazilian female writer of Jewish descent, tied her writing with her very life, for her writing reflects her viewpoint on many aspects of her life. She was well-known for her existentialist writing involving themes revolving around women’s roles. Through the characters and their interactions in her works, Lispector explores the societal status of women. The male subjugation of women influences many of the themes found in her works and a better understanding of women’s social status ultimately leads to a better understanding of the relationship between the characters in her works and actions by those characters. Thus, the evaluation of women in the society contemporary to the era Lispector lived in influences the overall existentialist ideas and the motif of women’s roles in her work.
...Halevi-Wise, Yael (1997). Story-telling in Laura Esquivel's Como Agua Para Chocolate. The Other Mirror: Women’s Narrative in Mexico, 1980-1995. Ed. Kristine Ibsen. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1997. 123-131.