House Of The Spirits Quote Journal Essays - Nivea, Shamanism

House Of The Spirits Quote Journal . . . 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. It was the custom then for women and children not to attend funerals, which were considered a male province. (34, Ch 1) Allende utilizes this quote to demonstrate a beginning of plot development by showing elements of a patriarchal society and present the past limitations of women as lower class members of this society. This point of view also is seen from a narrator that exists in the future and is reflecting on past customs and while doing so insinuates that this class limitation will go through change and possible elimination during the course of the novel. It begins a structural approach of presenting to the reader a metamorphosis of womens role in society through time. I would never find another woman [Rosa] with her green hair and underwater beauty. (35, Ch 1) Green is the color the ocean and a symbol of blossoming and awakening while water is pure and innocent. It has a middling quality and mediates between two extremes, or two political standpoints (Socialism and Conservatism). Life ascends from red and blossoms in green, a feminine color of childbearing, as is seen through the many generations of green haired women. Green is a color of hope, strength and longevity, where Clara and Rosas hair help represent them as a very natural and bold feminine aspect of the book. Rosas blossom between green leaves and the symbolic name of Rosa sets the organic tone of femininity found within her sibling, Clara, also because she posses supernatural powers of the clairvoyant. I would like to have been born a man, so I could leave too . . . And I would not have liked to be a women. (45, Ch 2) These two phrases are said by Ferula and her brother, Esteban Trueba, in a bicker about the care for their mother. Ferula is stuck in a position as a maternal figure, to care for the dying mother while Estebans masculinity allows him to enter the world carefree and to start a new life for himself. Free of the chains of Ferulas obligation, her brother has the nerve to confess to her that he understands that women are not given equal opportunity while disregarding her dilemma for selfish purposes. His shallow point of view and strict desire for personal gain characterize Esteban as a careless exploiter of the male favored society and set a trend of irresponsibility that reoccurs in his disrespect for other lower class workers as well. This is a different country. Here the Conservative Party wins clearly and openly, and we dont need a general to keep things orderly and calm, not like the neighboring dictatorships . . . (70, Ch 2) It is very ironic that Esteban is so oblivious to the opposing party and its power so early in the novel. He has a false sense of security knowing that his political side will always win the nations elections and furthermore, that no dictator would take charge of the country and destroy order. This characterization aids in explaining his shallowness near the end of the book when unable to admit his own error in logic, he continues to support the conservative revolution even though it becomes apparent to the rest of the country that a military dictatorship has arisen.