With the publication of her first novel, The House of the Spirits. Isabel Allende has become a
Latin-American voice that needs to be heard. This saga, of four generations of a family,
combines mythical and historical elements with a passionate voice. The mythic level is seen
through various elements, the most important being magic, as seen through the figure of Clara,
and the myth of the dominant male as seen through the figure of Esteban Trueba. The historical
level concentrates on the history of Chile starting with the beginning of the 20th century and
ends in 1975 when General Pinochet is firmly in control. These two levels combine in a circular
form which shows that history repeats itself and the same mythic elements combine over and
over again. Through this novel we also see that various parts of the history have a base in
mythical elements.
Isabel Allende chooses certain places to develop the story which help the reader to
better understand the role of the characters and give an insight into the social and
political conflict at the time.
• The country where the events take place is a South American country, but the
name is not stated; however, given the political changes presented in the novel
(dictatorship following a coup that brings to an end the rule of a socialist leader). it
is evident to the reader that it is Chile. This is successful as the author makes a
critique of the Chilean political situation without making it explicit.
• Family homes are the main setting for the story, highlighting the power women
have within those walls as men exercise power in more public spaces, such as the
government and social life where they are more influential. This fact helps the
reader understand the gender differences in society at the time.
• The actual house of spirits is the home that Trueba builds when he is engaged to
Clara. The way they divide the house while they live there is an allegory of how
people from different social classes and political views had to live together.
Esteban occupies the front rooms, to show wealth, power and high social class,
, while Clara adapts the back of the house to her own needs, which contrast with the
needs of Esteban.
El libro La casa de los espíritus de Isabel Allende es una novela publicada en 1982. Relata la
historia de cuatro generaciones familiares en un país latinoamericano en el siglo XX. Allende
hila aspectos como la injusticia social, el cambio del papel de la mujer en la sociedad y la lucha
popular frente a la tiranía, en medio de un ambiente de modernización y efervescencia
ideológica.
Esta obra constituye el debut literario de Allende como narradora, y rápidamente se convirtió
en un polémico éxito de ventas. Esto se debe a varios aspectos. En lo literario, Allende cruza un
relato realista sobre la historia contemporánea chilena con elementos mágicos y maravillosos.
En los aspectos no literarios, Allende despierta la polémica tanto por sus propias convicciones
políticas, como por sus nexos familiares con Salvador Allende.
Esteban Trueba es un empresario joven y ambicioso que está prometido con la hija mayor de
los del Valle, Rosa la Bella. Trabaja a destajo en una mina del norte, en espera de hacer fortuna
para poder regresar a la capital y casarse con Rosa. Desafortunadamente, antes de hacerse rico,
Rosa muere envenenada al tomar un trago de brandy que debía matar a su padre, un político
liberal. Todos están deshechos de dolor, sobre todo Esteban. Clara no vuelve a hablar durante
los siguientes nueve años, ya que tras predecir el destino de Rosa, teme ser la causante de su
muerte.
1. “El destino de Alba estaba decidido desde antes de su nacimiento”. ¿Hasta qué punto estás de
acuerdo con esta afirmación? Justifica tus ideas.
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