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April
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- Esteban and Clara
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April
(23)
carole surfus
ReplyDeleteThis chapter was, for the most part, the most enjoyable for me to read. I liked little Alba from the start and, though she was born "lucky" i knew that her experiences would be very disturbing. I liked how she was born to practically be her grandfather's savior. All the way from her green hair (like Rosa's) to the way she would humor him in her hunts for the hidden chocolate candies (which she ate only to humor him)and to how she would spend weeks with him at Tres Marias. Alba was never really a child mentally. She grew up around people who envelloped her in a coat of knowledge. Nicolas with his alternative religion and medicine, Clara and her commune with the spirits, even Jaime allows her into his private library This was displayed when Esteban Garcia came to the house and sat her upon his knee and invaded the little girl. He points out his erection and asks "do you know what it is?" and little Alba instantly answers "a penis".......Alba is an interesting savior for the family. She's the glue that brounght everyone closer together........ I also found it interesting how Isabel Allende began this chapter with the birth of a savior and ended it with the death of an "angel".
Alba is defiantly my favorite character. She is a very caring, sweet little girl, and with her uncle Nicolas's help she conquers all her fears. Even though she never went to public school, she learned more than she ever would have if she had went just by staying at home and being taught by all those around her. "Alba's childhood was a mixture of vegetarian diets, Japanese martial arts, Tibetan dance, yogic breathing, relaxation and concentration with Professor Hausser, and many other interesting techniques, not to mention the contribution to her education made by her two uncles and the three enchanting Mora sisters." (p.267-268) I enjoyed how Isabel Allende put "Alba knew that her grandmother was the soul of the big house on the corner. Everybody else learned it later, when Clara died...." By saying this, Allende is giving an example of the clarity in which all children, including Alba, see the world. Because their minds are not contaminated by greed and misfortune children are able to pick up on all the important details that craft a home, details that most adults fail to notice.
ReplyDeleteClara's death wasn't what I had expected it to be. Her death wasn’t very dramatic considering what happened to Barrabas on Clara's wedding day, the death of Rosa and Marcos, and the death of Clara's parents. I was slightly disappointed that she just chose to die. It didn't seem to play along with all the other outrageous things that have happened in this book.
It really pleased me that Blanca didn't stay with her husband. I also think that it's a good thing Alba was born because she seems to be holding the family together. The part with Alba and Esteban Garcia did make me feel some a bit repulsed (p.286). I don't understand how his feeling of hatred for the little girl turned into a feeling of arousal. I was expecting the death of Clara soon, because Allende had alluded to it earlier in the novel. What I wasn't expecting were the reactions of the family, especially Esteban. I also wonder why Clara would prepare herself for death, but not tell the family. She warned them of various other things throughout her time, but why not her own death? I hope we see Amanda and Miguel again in the story, that Jaime finds love, and that Blanca will marry Pedro Tercero Garcia once and for all. 'Trueba did not give the matter a second thought. Tenants often used their patron's name for their children. It was a sign of respect' (p.287). I, personally, fail to see how Esteban could have had a child by Pancho Garcia and forgotten all about her and the child. How does one forget one's own child? I also wonder what will make Esteban Garcia cause so much pain for the Trueba family after Esteban Trueba gave him the reccomendation and scholarship for the police acadamy that he asked for. I keep waiting for something to expolode within this family some how.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I would like to mention is that it felt obvious that Alba and Miguel would have feelings for each other in the future. Alba's mother and grandmother both fell in love with/married people who showed up during their childhoods.
ReplyDeleteBut even if there is something ...off about her character (sorry but like the the Luna Lovegood vibe Clara gave me Alba gave me a complete Mary Sue vibe) I will admit that she is an enjoyable character. Especially when you consider she serves as a (successful) morality pet to her grandfather.
In my opinion Estaban Garcia's actions around Alba are giving a little trouble to choose an opinion on. His earlier attempt in helping Esteban catch Pedro can be seen as kicking the dog or a moral event horizon. The former causes his actions to be what crosses the horizon while the latter causes him to somehow cross it again.
On page 280, the "mongoloids" are introduced. Although they never become any type of significant figure in the story, I have a couple questions about the mind set of people in that point in time.
ReplyDeleteThe children are "delivered by a truck and escorted by two nuns" which to me translates that they live in some kind of home strickly for kids suffering from Down syndrome. Were most children with mental defects placed in facilities like that during those times?
Furthermore, on page 281, Alba discusses the children with her grandmother Clara. During the conversation Clara uses terms like "fool", "crazy person", and "lunatic" to refer to people afflected with Down syndrome. If my grandmother were to say things like that, I probably would have to pick my jaw up off the floor. To me, that seems insensitive and ignorant. To Alba, those terms seemed perfectly acceptable. Is that honestly how mentally retarded people were viewed?
Alba seems like a very sweet girl. She kind of reminds me of all children and their fathers at a young age except the only father figure in her life was grandpa. I think it is her and Clara who hold this whole family together. Clara holds in Blanca and Esteban (even though they don't talk to each other), and Alba holds all of them along with Nicholas and Jamie. I don't know what would happen if Alba wasn't there to hold them together anymore.
ReplyDeleteWhen Esteban Garcia came for a visit that almost made me sick. First he starts thinking about killing the poor child. On page 286, "One hand he encircled the child's neck. He felt the tickle of her braids against his wrist and squeezed ever so gently, aware that she was so tiny he could strangle her with very little effort. He wanted to do it, feel her writhing and kicking at his knees, squirming as she fought for air. He wanted to hear her moan and die in his arms." What kind of creep would want to do that to a little girl? He is nothing but a homicidal pedafile!
The death of Clara made me sad cause I liked her from the very beginning. Aside from Esteban, she is the only character who has stayed with us through the very beginning of the book.
This little girl had me from the moment she was born. She wasn't hated by any but she was loved by all. It didn't matter who she encountered it seemed that she got along with all of them. She acted as a glue for the family.
ReplyDeleteIt is kind of sad that Blanca lies to her daughter. She tells Alba that her father was a count who died in the middle of the desert. Alba uses the Trueba name anyways.
The scene with Esteban Garcia is terrifying. From page 285 to the top of 287 I was horrified. I wasnt horrified at Alba's knowing his anatomy but what Esteban was doing. He wanted her and he wanted to strangle her all at the same time. This was the worst part of this chapter and it was the most disturbing.
Clara knew she was dying and she prepared for her death. Jamie's medicines and cures were useless. I feel bad for Alba when Clara dies. It must be horrifying to have someone you love die on your birthday. I know someone who has gone through this and it strongly affects a person.
Right as this chapter started, I knew I was going to like Alba's character. I like how on p. 263 it says "Alba was almost born in a narrow-gauged train, at three o'clock in the afternoon in the middle of the desert. That would have been fatal to her astrological chart." So even before birth Alba was already demonstrating her gift of being lucky. Also in this chapter, you begin to see the more loving side of Esteban. It's almost like a contrast between the hatred he's accustomed to and the love he feels for little Alba. While in the past he had a habit of hurting those close to him such as Clara and Blanca, he never lays a hand on Alba. I find it interesting that he shows such compassion towards his granddaughter yet is unchanged in his mood towards everyone else. As Clara begins to fade and prepares for death, I think its commendable how Alba assists her grandmother and how mature Alba was about the whole event of her grandmother passing away. She understood completely what was going on and she was prepared for the day Clara passed on. However, the death of Clara was the onset for the decline of the house and everyone in it. This sets the mood for the next chapter, ironically named Epoch of Decline.
ReplyDeleteYes, Cassondra. It is interesting that he changes for his granddaughter yet remains unchanged. Why do you think that is?
ReplyDeleteDarienne- think about the time period here...the state of hospitals and health facilities. Things seem to move very slowly here.
On page 290, this quote that Clara says at the end of her life seriously hit my heart...
ReplyDelete"Just as we come into the world, when we die we are afraid of the unknown. But the fear is something from within us that has nothing to do with reality. Dying is like being born: just a change."
Not only did this make me have to view my own perspective on death, it gave me a whole new side to Clara I seemed to have missed. Clara saying this to Alba shows the sensitive and caring women she was throughout her life. Most of the book it seems like she has her head stuck in the cloud and she is unaware of what is going on around her. However that is not the case at all. She obsorbs everything like a sponge but doesn't let the complete negativity around her to effect her life style. She loves her family so much that she sets up an entire system to say her 'goodbyes'. The letters express what she was not able to herself and for that I find her a strong and courageous character.
I felt so sorry for Miguel. A young child seeing a woman give birth was probably terrifying. The way Allende describes the birth convinces me even more to never have children.
ReplyDelete(p.264) In the excitement of these first moments no one noticed the half-open door of the wardrobe, where little Miguel had observed the entire scene, paralyzed with fear, engraving in his mind forever the vision of a huge balloon of veins crowned with an enormous navel, from which that bruised creature emerged, wrapped in a hideous blue membrane.
One of the things I love about Alba is the fact that she got her father's eyes.
I think Esteban's heart softened when his only grandchild was born. Although he was still very angry with Blanca he became very attached to Alba. He showered her with more love and attention then he did all of his children. Alba quickly became the most important person in his life, even though she turns out to be a rebellious child who goes behind his back he unconditionally loves her. It was interesting to see this new, caring side of Esteban and because of his granddaughter he became a better person.
ReplyDelete