The House of the Spirits discussion: Chapters 1-4

[AquariJenn]

Welcome to our discussion of The House of the Spirits (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553273914/ref=nosim/storknet00) by Isabel Allende. We encourage everyone to share their thoughts about this book and ask questions. In this post we are focusing on Chapters 1-4. Here are some questions to get the discussion going:

* What do you think of Allende's use of multiple points of view in this book? Is it confusing or does it help you understand Esteban Trueba better?

* Who is your favorite character thus far? Why? Least favorite?

* What social differences does Allende bring up in this first section?

Edited to fix link.

[SusanH]

I am experiencing major narrative confusion! I have seen several narrators in the first 100 pages, some are identified, some aren't, some are omniscient, some aren't, some switch so rapidly I didn't even realize we switched.... It's honestly frustrating me a bit. When a new one takes over, it's hard for me to decide if it's one we've met before or someone totally different.

As for favorite characters, I'm not sure I have one. Certainly not Esteban Trueba, who is a pretty loathsome individual. It's interesting that the narrators never seem to judge the characters, even when Esteban is out raping half the countryside. It's somewhat disturbing to me how casually it is described. I suppose Clara is my favorite character, partially just because I adore that name. http://www.storknet.com/boards/wink.gif

Oh, and I have to ask: green hair? Green? http://www.storknet.com/boards/confused.gif

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Susan, proud mama of Susanna Jane (http://users.adelphia.net/~harkavy/), 2/3/00 * at the park (http://users.adelphia.net/~harkavy/maypark.html) * "I sleepy!" (http://users.adelphia.net/~harkavy/sleepy.html)
Co-moderator of Attachment Parenting
Having kids is great, Apu! You can teach them to hate the things you hate, and they practically raise themselves, what with the Internet and all. - Homer Simpson

[Caryl]

I've only read through chapter one, but since I've read this before, I decided I could let myself read your comments, Susan. http://www.storknet.com/boards/wink.gif

I felt a lot like you did the first time I read this. Now, it's kind of fun to be surprised at who is coming into the story next. I think it will be easier as you get further into it. (And you're such a fast reader -- I wouldn't be surprised if you're already near the end!)

I love the name Clara, too, and I think that was my favorite character the first time I read the book.

And yup, I thought the green hair was strange/silly the first time, but now I look forward to the ways that Allende stretches the truth. She writes like no one else I've read!

I'll add more comments later this week, after I finish this section.

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Caryl
Mom to Charon, 7/19/99
Co-Moderator for the Reading Circle and Heart of the Home Forums
"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."
--Annie Dillard

[Satya]

Did I read right that Rosa was born with green hair? I know this is some type of figurative language, but I'm having trouble visualising the "luminescent" Rosa http://www.storknet.com/boards/smile.gif

Ya...I'm on page 12, just got the book...

[Caryl]

* What do you think of Allende's use of multiple points of view in this book? Is it confusing or does it help you understand Esteban Trueba better?

I am enjoying the multiple points of view. This is the second time I've read this book, so I think it's easier for me this time through. The third person narrator always seems to have an interesting viewpoint, too. I agree with Susan; Esteban is never harshly judged by the narrator. I wonder if it took effort for Allende to write it that way -- Esteban can be so awful. http://www.storknet.com/boards/frown.gif

* Who is your favorite character thus far? Why? Least favorite?

Clara is my favorite, just because she's so different from everyone else. I also liked the description of her parenting of Blanca as an infant. And I got teary-eyed when Ferula was distraught, not knowing where to go or what to do when her mother died, and Clara saw into her heart and said, "Don't worry. You're going to live with us and the two of us will be like sisters."

Estaban is definitely my least favorite. I am finding it hard to *really* like any of the characters, but I do think they are all very interesting people.

* What social differences does Allende bring up in this first section?

The sections about Estaban's perceptions of how he's "helping" the peasants on Tres Marias were so well-written. Here's one of my favorite quotes so far:

In vain, Pedro Segundo Garcia and the old priest from the nuns' hospital tried to suggest to him that it was not little brick houses or pints of milk that made a man a good employer or an honest Christian, but rather giving his workers a decent salary instead of slips of pink paper, a workload that did not grind their bones to dust, and a little respect and dignity.

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Caryl
Mom to Charon, 7/19/99
Co-Moderator for the Reading Circle and Heart of the Home Forums
"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."
--Annie Dillard

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[This message has been edited by Caryl (edited 09-16-2002).]

[H'OHara]

* What do you think of Allende's use of multiple points of view in this book? Is it confusing or does it help you understand Esteban Trueba better?

I have to admit that at first I was kind of frustrated by it. I could not figure out who was narrating, and when. Now that I have the hang of it, I think it puts an interesting spin on the story. By being able to read the different view points, I think it helps to understand the characters better.

* Who is your favorite character thus far? Why? Least favorite?

So far, it is Clara. She is a free spirit, I like that about here

My least favorite is Ferula...I don't know, she just gives me the heebie jeebies for lack of a better word(s) http://www.storknet.com/boards/smile.gif

* What social differences does Allende bring up in this first section? The diffrence between the classes is phenomenal(spelling) I almost wanted to toss my cookies when reading the description of Tres Marias.

[k-mom]

* What do you think of Allende's use of multiple points of view in this book? Is it confusing or does it help you understand Esteban Trueba better?I don't find the multiple point of view confusing, on the contrary I feel as if I understand the characters better.

* Who is your favorite character thus far? Why? Least favorite?Clara is my favorite character thus far, although she isn't the most attentive wife or mother. She does seem genuinely nice and pure of heart.

My least favorite is of course Esteban, what a pig he had turned out to be. Not only is he an adulterer and a rapist, he is also as savage a businessman as they come!

* What social differences does Allende bring up in this first section?[b]There is a drastic difference in classes described in this book. For example the first class passengers riding in nice cars, and the rest riding w/the freight and farm animals, and the rich landowners telling the poorer men how to vote (or else!). But, the most disturbing has to be Esteban having unspoken permission from his servants to pick, choose, and rape their young daughters as he pleases, just because he is the "patron". Leaving the girls robbed of their innocence and pregnant in his cowardly trail.

Quote:"Esteban did not remove his clothes. He attacked her savagely, thrusting himself into her without preamble, with unnecessary brutality...She did not complain, nor did she shut her eyes...Before her, her mother--and before here, her grandmother--had suffered the same animal fate."

The above referenced part of the book made me sick to my stomach. Is this based on a true story?

I am also confused about the green hair & yellow eyes of Rosa, and why this makes her so beautiful. She sounded sickly looking in her description to me.

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Heather, 29
SAHM
DH - Sean, 31
DS - Tommy 12-10-99
DD - Gracie 03-09-01

[January]

I liked the different points of view. I could follow it easily. I like moving within the characters "minds". I thought it was a challenging book to write.

[Satya]

What do you think of Allende's use of multiple points of view in this book? Is it confusing or does it help you understand Esteban Trueba better?

I don't find the change of narrator confusing...but then again I guess I haven't been paying extreme attention because I thought there were only two: Esteban and the main narrator (which is somebody who goes back to read Clara's notes etc to piece together the story) Who are the other narrators?

* Who is your favorite character thus far? Why? Least favorite?

I don't know that I have a favorite so far. Clara is very bizarre...Esteban is a male chauvanist pig...and Ferula is a rather sad, lonely person. Esteban is probably my least favorite because he does wrong and doesn't even know it. He thinks he's right in everything. What really strikes me is that things are really still this way in many parts of the world. This male portrait really rings true for me as to the way things used to be and still are in many places. Allende has done a great job of not showing any feminine bias when writing about Esteban. And this brings me to my next question...

* What social differences does Allende bring up in this first section?


The three main social issues are: women's rights, economic class differences, and rights of the indigenous peoples. Once again, having lived in Guatemala for two years (and having family there) Allende has painted a picture that rings true for me. Once again indigenous people are the "lower" class in the eyes of the latinos. They are considered stupid and are not educated. Nor does Esteban want them educated. They might start getting ideas such as Pedro Tercero. So, fearing a backlash, the indians slave for Esteban. They don't want to lose what little they have. This reminds me sooooo much of Guatemala!! And it's part of the reason social change happens so slowly...you might just get killed if you're a Pedro Tercero. That's reality even today.

[Caryl]

I just wanted to let you all know how much I'm enjoying your comments on this book! The thoughts posted here are so wonderfully insightful. Thank you for sharing, everyone!

Caryl

[Caryl]

I just finished the book, and you're right, sdebarrios, I think there are only two points of view: Esteban Trueba's and Alba's. But Alba often takes on the third person narrator voice, which was a bit confusing to me at the beginning.

I just flipped the book open, and saw that Allende gives us some Pablo Neruda lines before the story starts. :)

Just wanted to add those two thoughts to this thread!

Caryl