Enlightened Generations

             It is quite simple to apply the idea of "Feminist Theory" to Isabel Allende's House of Spirits. Women throughout generations have been repressed and are slowly beginning to change their thinking and their actions. The older generation of women in Allende's book are dependent on the men in their lives for everything from political to economical duties. This point of view is lays a foundation for the growth of an enlightened generation. This enlightened generation of women are stronger and less accepting of the societal norms.
             "She had already made up her mind to marry without love." (90, Ch 3) Allende demonstrates the irony of Esteban's struggle for Clara's love throughout the novel while Clara possess a clear indifference in attitude toward her lover from the beginning. She does not marry Trueba for love, but rather out of a premonition she receives about her destiny. This marriage, unlike many, was not because she felt a need due to her ingrained societal upbringing. She on the other hand simply wanted to bear children into a position that has the ability to provide an influence in the society around them. She wanted to marry someone with power and received a vision from the future telling her that one day he would be able to provide her with this request. The passage of time allows Clara the chance to break free from some of her protective shells of masculinity. She gains the opportunity to fend for herself and realize what it means to be self- dependent, an important aspect in the struggle for women's independence. "She was a charitable and generous women, eager to make those around her happy– everyone except me." (179, Ch 6) The characterizations presented her show Clara to be a very generous woman capable of infinite amounts of love and affection for others. The irony however is found in that her desire to be with her husband has not simply expired, but has never truly been in existence, from the time she stated that she ...

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Enlightened Generations. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 02:10, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/89947.html