Analysis of The House Of The Spirits Essay

Isabel Allendes historical fiction novel entitled, The House of the Spirits uses magical realism to show that during the mid-1900s in Chile the dictators were able to control all the people by threatening and brainwashing them into believing that they are the ideal leader of Chile. Throughout the novel, Allende uses different techniques and themes to emphasize important characters and events. For example, she uses hyperbole, dictatorship, and obsessions. These three techniques, styles, and themes portray a typical person during this time in that nation.

Throughout the novel, Allende portrays dictatorship to show the levels of power at Tres Marias, the big house on the corner, and the nation. When Esteban Trueba arrives at Tres Marias he announces to the people living there: Im the patron here now. The partys over. Were going to work. Anyone who doesnt like the idea should clear out immediately. Whoever stays wont lack for food, but hell have to work good and hard. I dont want any deadbeats or smart-alecks around, you understand?(51). By Esteban announcing this to all the citizens that he is the patron of Tres Marias soon foreshadows his dictatorship in the country, and that Tres Marias is the first step towards his dictatorship. When Esteban declares, This is a different country. This countrys a genuine republic. We have civic pride. Here, the Conservative Party wins cleanly and openly, and we do not need a general to keep things orderly and calm, not like the neighboring dictatorships where they kill each other off while the gringos walk away with all their raw materials(70). This shows that Esteban Trueba sees the Conservative Party as more fit to run the country, perhaps because he is a dictator, whereas he sees the military as being destructive rather than supporting, so there is not need for a military dictatorship. Allende also portrays the importance of characters through other features.

Allende also uses hyperbole to stress the importance of characters and events throughout the novel. She shows this through many characters. For example when Clara has Barabas for six months she says, Within six months he was the size of a sheep, and at the end of the year he was nearly as big as a colt (19), this shows that Barrabas is a symbol toward Claras childhood. When he was a puppy Clara was still a child and she was growing; yet he dies at Claras marriage this that shows Claras childhood ended. Furthermore, when Allende writes, He had so many broken bones that they could not be counted, but he was still alive and his eyes were open(160). This shows that the patron, Esteban Trueba was crushed badly by the earthquake. Although, most of his bones were crushed, she shows that he was so strong and determined he lived.

Obsessions with politics is a theme throughout the novel, one character that this can clearly be seen through is Miguel. He is a law student and political activist who has an intolerable obsession and passion for justice as well as politics. When Professor Sebastian states that the government is going to fall Miguel says, I doubt it. But the main thing is to establish protest and not to leave the building until they sign the workers list of demands (321). Miguels passion for justice will lead him to do practically anything for a change. Being in a lower caste Miguel promotes violence in order to have change.

In conclusion, from the evidence provided the techniques and themes shown throughout the novel is able to tell us the typical man during that time era. With the help of obsessions and dictatorship we can tell that the men loved politics and had a passion for it. With the help of hyperbole, we realize that this novel can be magical realism. Throughout this historical fiction novel, we can realize the pain and agony many had to go through during that time,