House Of Spirits

In her famous The House of the Spirits, Isabel Allende documents the life of several characters during the Chilean reality in the 1930s. Her notorious feminist ideology is, at times, extremely obvious. Elements such as the clash of social classes and the social, political and economical conditions of Chile during this period of high turmoil are also well portrayed. Isabel Allende achieves to give us a good image of what life in Chile was like during those years. Some particular characters specially exemplify all of these elements very clearly.

Allende's character Esteban Trueba has a very intricate life. Through his triumphs and defeats and through the different places of this novel, Allende portrays several elements that clearly exemplify historical, political and economic events in Chile. Esteban's life is that of the low class in Chile. He usually longs for power and money to make good things happen. After leaving, his mother and sister, and starting a new and independent life, Esteban's ideology changes dramatically. For the first time he directly experiments success and wealth. He feels as if he has no problems, mainly because he does not have a family to weigh him down. Trueba's move to Three Marias seems to appease his hunger temporarily, before his monstrous, demanding, and ever growing needs overwhelms him. The type of lifestyle achieved by Esteban Trueba in Three Marias far surpassed that of living with his mother and sister, however only brief moments of satisfaction are incurred. These, previously mentioned, moments created a hunger for perfection and greed that would continue perpetuate at any cost. Only when Trueba receives a letter from Ferula does he remember his life with her and his mother, which forces him to endure his memories of poverty and pain. He even remembers the smell of medicine, which had encompassed their home. These memories force Esteban to reflect on the reasons and ideas that made him leave his origins. He reminisces on that portion of his life, occupied by the deterioration of his family.

Esteban's case represents that of the oppressed, poor class that is constantly struggling to survive. This struggle for survival becomes so pressing that they start thinking how, if they got the chance, could make things better. They usually fight a lot, but finally, when they reach the position of helping, power becomes their obsession and they lose the vision of the original purpose of their fight. Only when something from the past reaches their present do they remember and try to amend these mistakes. This has been a constant characteristic in Latin American reality, mainly during the revolutions that took place in the beginning of the 1900s. Poor people with great ideals of change and commitment towards society rise and make others believe in them. However, once in power, they forget their ideas and start thinking of themselves. Esteban, in my opinion represents this social figure of leaders that once in power, forget their origins and start thinking money and more power.

During the novel, Ferula endures many burdens as well. These burdens are due to her father's drinking, then his death, her mother's age, her chronic ailment, and having the responsibility of taking care of Esteban during his childhood. A direct result of these chaotic years is her inability to relate with her brother. For instance, a small situation portrays perfectly this inability to relate. When Esteban buys a luxurious, an elaborate coffee with his money she scolds him for "spending Mama's medicine money on [his] private little whims" (Allende 43). Eventually Esteban gets tired of this oppressive way of life and goes to search for a "destiny that was bright, free, and full of promise" (Allende 44). At Tres Marias he hopes to find his Eden. All this cargo from his past is called to his attention by the letter he receives from Ferula. The letter does result in inflicting guilt on Esteban, for his lack of morals and complete selfishness.

Ferula's role in this novel is also very complex. On one hand her figure represents that of the person that indirectly makes people wish for more (given her negative attitude), but on the other, she is a reminder of life and