The House on the Lagoon Part VIII

The final section of this novel includes the climax of the story, Quintíns death. By this time Isabel had realized that Quintín had turned out just like his father and that she could no longer spend her life with him. The House on the Lagoon acts as a record of their lives together, as well as their families, and as hinted to in the beginning of the novel the changeless nature of an individual. A person will draw on the pasts and the histories of the family in order to determine what to do in the future. A quote at the beginning of the novel, spoken by Abby illustrates this; “…when people fall in love they should always look closely at what the family of the betrothed is like, because one never marrieds the bridegroom alone but also his parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and the whole dammed tangle of the ancestral line” (Ferré 3). This repetitive cycle in the book was shown through Quintíns actions and choices that mirrored his fathers, and Isabel’s actions and choices that mirrored the women in her life. This cycle of repeating history is show to not benefitting society, a family, or an individual. In order for a person to be successful in his or her life and benefit their own family and society one has to make their choices and follow their own beliefs and passions.

The House on the Lagoon Part VII

The discord in the Mendizabal family that was hinted in the last sections becomes very prevalent in this section. The section shows the slow, but permeant destruction of the Mendizabal family and the marriage of Isabel and Quintín. It all starts with the death of Buenaventura, which is fitting because he was the one who created the Mendizabal life in San Juan. The family business began to fail and this caused strained relationships within Quintín’s family and in his marriage. After the death of his mother, Rebecca, and the collapse of his business Quintín went to extreme measures in order to insure his own future and make himself and this made him more like his father than he wanted to be. Isabel recognized this and began to trust him less and less. With the addition of Manuel and Willie to the family things stabilized for a short while, but fueled by the political uncertainty in Puerto Rico the Monfort-Mendizabal family collapsed. As shown in the collapse of his own family Quintín shows that it is hard to break out of the pattern of history and the ways of ones family

The House on the Lagoon Part VI

This section outlines a period of turmoil in Isabel’s life as well as in the lives of the members of the Mendizabal family. After the death of Isabel’s mother, father, and grandmother, who was the most important person in Isabel’s life, Isabel was truly alone in the world save for Quintín. Isabel’s was forced to give herself over completely to the knowledge that now she relied on Quintín and the Mendizabal family. This was hard for Isabel because she had been taught to be independent by her grandmother Abby. However, just as Isabel was resigning herself to her fate she resolved to never give up her passions or identity. In the Mendizabal family Ignacio, Quintíns brother, was also making a vow of passion. He was resolved to marry one of Isabel’s old friends from ponce who did no agree without he standards of the Mendizabal house. Ignacio defied his parents and pushed himself to mental exhaustion, but in the end his love ended badly. This was the first sign of discord and weakness in the Mendizabal family and portentous event for the future. 

The House on the Lagoon Part V

This chapter provides a unique view into Isabel’s life throughout the lens of her ballet dancing. Isabel demonstrated her ability to love something unconditionally and passionately through her ballet dancing. Her commitment and dedication were also shown when describing her early life in dancing. Her ballet dancing also presented a pattern that became common in Isabel’s life; she would give all of her love and commitment to someone or something, and then it would disappoint her. Her relationship with Quintín proved to the tipping point in this pattern and later in their marriage Isabel came to trust things and people less. Isabel’s bad experience with ballet did not take away her ability to love deeply, but it did take away her naivety and trust in the world.

The House on the Lagoon Part IV

The manuscripts that Isabel is writing is a way for her to express her beliefs on anything from marriage to politics. She brings attention to Rebecca’s behavior in her marriage and her way of rebelling by being obedient. She also lets her political views slip through in her retelling of Arrigoitia’s story in a pro nationalistic way. On this issue and others Isabel and Quintín differ in their opinions and the manuscript is a way for them to communicate in a way that they could not in person. Quintín learns a lot about Isabel from her writing that he would not have known otherwise.

The House on the Lagoon Part III

This section Isabel focuses more on the female relatives in her life. All of Isabel’s grandmothers, both by blood and by marriage, demonstrated a strong presence and control in heir lives. Each one of them had their beliefs and knew what they wanted in life. None of them had easy lives, but they were able to make the best of their situations and eventually were able to succeed in life. Isabel uses  these women as role models in her life and uses them for inspiration for her own independence. When Quintín discovers this section of Isabel’s story he is upset that she has beard personal secrets about his family and hers without talking to him. It is because of this that Quintín decided to present is own version of Isabel’s story in a more historically manner. He tried to stick to the facts and not embellish as much as possible. This shows a difference in Quintín and Isabel’s personally, Quintín being more practical and Isabel being more of a romantic soul. 

The House on the Lagoon Part II

In this section of the book Buenaventura and Rebecca’s place of dwelling arises as a factor in their lives. At the beginning of their marriage Buenaventura owned a humble house that fit his station in life, but as his fortunes rose in importance he felt that his house should reflect his rise in power. The house that Buenaventura built reflected the conflicts that were starting to arise in his and Rebecca’s marriage. The couple both tried to uses the house for their own purposes, but they were so different that their passions were not compatible. Because of this both of them started to pay their attention two different people that supported their interests more, the eccentric Pavel and the mysterious Petra. However, once Buenaventura realized that he was losing Rebecca his solution was to tear down the house that Pavel had built for them and build a new one in order to start a new life. This shows the significance that their houses play in their lives. It is also in this section that Quintín discovered Isabel was writing a history of his family. He was shocked and amused by Isabel’s account of things, but at the same time he was concerned that Isabel was pulling Rebecca’s story into her own life and resolved to keep a close eye on her. In this section the reader starts to see the over lap between Quintín and Isabel’s lives and Quintín’s parents lives.

The House on the Lagoon Part I

Isabel begins her story by foreshadowing her own future with the events that have happened in the lives of her family ancestors. The title of this part of the book is titled foundations and the foundations of Quintín and Isabel’s lives are built on a combination of secrecy, tragedy and luck. Quintíns father, Buenaventura, arrived in San Juan on a day of change and new beginnings. It was a happy day and was full of promise for the future. This seems an auspicious start for Buenaventura which was true for is business, but his personal life with Rebecca was not so fortunate. Buenaventura’s story sets a tone happiness, but also uncertainty for the rest of the section.

Here's To You Jesusa! Chapters 17-18

• Jesusa has already established herself as a strong and independent woman capable of taking care of herself. She does not need anyone to help her in life and is quick to set anyone straight if they tried to control her. However, she is confident enough now that she is able to let her compassion show through enough to help and look out for other people. This might be a downfall for her financially, but it keeps her from becoming a person who does not care for anyone or anything.

Here's To You Jesusa! Chapters 15-16

• In this chapter Jesusa discovers her own spirituality. She is drawn into a strange world where she is forced to reconcile with parts of her past that she did not necessarily want to be reminded of. However, she seemed to find some kind of comfort from this experience because she chose to pursue this spiritual path. This makes one realize that despite all Jesusa says to the contrary, she draws a lot from her past. The experiences and people that she has known in the past all help her continue through her life.

Here's To You Jesusa! Chapters 13-14

• These two chapters really make me realize how indifferent Jesusa is to her own suffering. She narrates her own story in such a bland and accepting way that it almost makes the reader believe that her life at that time wasn’t so miserable. Because of the way she tells it, not eating for months at a time, sleeping on news paper and having to work for no pay seems like an ordinary life. It makes one wonder what the average life was at that time and place. Because of Jeusas apathy one really has to pay attention to what she is saying in order to fully grasp the curl life that she endured. 

Here's To You Jesusa! Chapters 11-12

Jesusa’s husband became friends with a young boy who would come to their house for food. They became very attached to one another. That was until they young boy died and Jesusa’s husband became very lost. Jesusa had to support her husband and look out for his interests. Then just as they were at very least coming to respect each other, Jesusa’s husband was shot. Jesusa was left alone with no money and no connections in the world. She was sent by the army to Tehuantepec where she could start a new life, but along they way all of her possessions were robbed. She was left with literally nothing and no where to go in the middle of  Mexico City. She must rely on all of the knowledge gained from her previous hardships in order to survive this challenging part of her life.

Here's To You Jesusa! Chapters 9-10

Jesusa’s husband does not like her being independent. He brings her back to the army and tries to control her by ignoring her and by beating her. Jesusa put up with it for a a short while, but then proved herself to be worthy by standing up to her husband. This was a major turning point in the book. Jesusa established herself as an independent and strong woman. He husband recognized this and there relationship changed into a more balanced once. Jesusa also defended her place in her husbands life often by violent means. Having gone though what she has gone through she had the strength and the rational to defend her place in her own life.

Here's To You Jesusa! Chapters 7-8

Jesusa shows her ability to adapt. She becomes part of the army and learns to survive in harsh situations. Jesusa was a part of an interesting system that existed between the women of the opposing armies. All of the women joined together and waited until the men had stopped fighting. During these occasions Jesusa learned that the enemy was not evil, but just other human beings stuck in the same situation as herself. She had to fight for her place in her life, tooth and nail. However just like in the past, as soon as she got her feet under her, her life was changed again. Jesusa was forced to marry a man that she didn’t love, just again showing how little control she had in her own life. When her new husband left her at her new home, trapped by isolation, jesusa was forced to be resourceful and make her own way in life. It seems as if all of Jesusa’s bad experiences have lead her to create a stronger personality and identity.

Here's To You Jesusa! Chapters 5-6

After Jesusa’s father left her step mom, Jesusa was sent to live with her ‘godmother’. Jesusa’s godmother taught her to me a model child. Jesusa worked from dawn until the evening, to always be respectful, and cater to her godmothers every need. Jesusa had a couple of suiters during her time with her godmother, but Jesusa had no interest in them. She was starting to like being alone was  developing her self confidence and strength that would benefit her later in life. It was especially helpful when she discovers that her brother had been killed. This event causes yet another upheaval in Jesusa’s life that she bears with surprising ease. She sets off with her father to start a new life without looking back.

Here's To You Jesusa! Chapters 3-4

The one constant in Jesusa’s life when she is younger is her father and her younger brother. Her father is her main provider and in turn Jesusa loves him and takes care of him. Both Jesusa’s older sister and brother stay with them for a short time and caused more unrest in jesusa’s life. Her relationships with them are fleeting and this solidifies Jesusa’s conviction that she is all alone in her life. Shortly after that her a new step mother came into Jesusa’s life. Her life was hard but Jesusa came to love her new step mother because she taught Jesusa everything that she needed to know. Working with her step mother in the prison, Jesusa learned to work hard, endure pain and hardship, and most of to all look out for herself. 

Here's To You Jesusa! Chapters 1-2

In the first two chapters of the novel Jesusa expresses her deep spirituality. She has a very intricate spiritual awareness that is based not only on her present life but from two previous ones as well. From these previous lives Jesusa has protectors and visions that guide her in her present life. I am curious to find out how she came to practice this certain religion and what it will do for her in the future. Jesusa then begins to describe the beginning of her life in which the most significant event was the death of her mother. This sets the tone of the rest of her life. Jesusa is constantly trying to find her place in her family that was constantly changing after that. Jesusa’s childhood is a confused mess of sisters, brothers, stepmothers and her own uncertain self identity.

House of the Spirits Analysis Chapters 2-4

In this section of the reading Clara emerges as a strong leading character. Because of her psychic abilities she is able to take control of her life and doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do. I really like this quality in her; she inspires a confident and strong woman. Clara also seems to be taking the place in everyones hearts where Rosa used to occupy. The people closest to her are awed by her powers and gravitate to her emotionally, which used to be the case with Rosa. I find it interesting that this family has two daughters that are beautiful, powerful and have an air of mystery. Another interesting part in this section is the union of Esteban and Clara. Esteban was originally Rosa’s fiance, but after her death Clara took her place. It is strange to me that Clara marries him, just because of a premonition, and not out of real love. I think that Clara lets these premonition rule her life a little too completely. This could cause her problems in the future. 

Isabel Allende

Isabel Allende 

Life and Work

• Isabel Allende was born in Lima Peru on August 2, 1942. She came  from a broken family and was raised by her grandparents. However, she did not let this affect her, working her way up in the world working as a journalist, writer and documentary film maker. In 1973, after the assassination of her uncle Salvador Allende, Isabel left home for Venezuela. It was in Venezuela that she began to write her first and possibly most influential book The House of Spirits. Isabel drew on her own personal experiences in order to write many more novels that elevated her to the high levels of literature. Isabel was married twice and had a daughter. She moved to the United States where she taught literature at several universities. 

Themes of Work

• Isabel Allende style of writing falls into the category of magical realism. This is the blending of the real and the imaginary in a unique and intriguing way. Why Isabel's writing is so good is because she uses her own experiences in life as the guide for her writing. This quality of her writing adds depth and meaning to her writing. Isabel also has political and feminist themes in her writing. She has always supported women's rights and had strong political opinions.

Reflection

• Isabel seems like a strong, intelligent and creative woman. I really admire how she infuses her writing with her own passions and opinions. I would really like to know more about how she became a writer. What inspired her to overcome all of her hardships and make something out of herself. 

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao Assessment 2.14.11

"If they noticed similarities between Past and Present they did not speak of it."

• This quote is taken from the part of the book when Oscar is in the hospital recovering from his horrific beating. It is referencing the beating that Beli receive many years earlier. The significance of this quote is that it backs up the belief that Oscar's family is cursed. What are the odds that mother and son both had to live throughout something like that in their lives? It makes you question the forces surrounding that family.

"I must be away to Paterson. I have a date."

• Oscar says this to Yunior after he has recovered form his near death experience in the DR. It seemed to Yunior that Oscar was a new man and was at peace with himself in a way that he had never been before. In this quote Oscar tells Yunior that he has a date, but not where or with whom. It turns out to be Ybón back in the DR. This quote is significant because when Oscar returns to Ybón it is the beginning of his downfall.

"I'm a new man, you see, a new man, a new man."

• Yunior says this after the death of Oscar. He has drastically changed his ways. He has a beautiful wife and is content. Yunior had learned so much from Oscar when he was alive, but is was only after his death did he begin to apply that learning to his won life. This shows that Oscar did live an important life, in that he helped the lives of the people around him.

"So this is what everybody's always talking about! Diablo! If I'd only known. The beauty! The beauty!"

• This quote is from a letter that Yunior received from Oscar after he was dead. Oscar and Ybón had managed to sneak away for the weekend and Oscar had achieved his life long dream.  In the course of the weekend Oscar had several realizations about life. He had gotten to experience intimacy with a woman, and it was as if this experience made him forget all the injustice in the world (at least for a moment), and he was able to revile in the beauty of the world instead. 

"Ybón was the one who suggested calling the wait something else. Yeah, like what? Maybe, she said, you could call it life."

• All his life Oscar had been waiting. Waiting for a girl, a kiss, for his life to actually start. Most of all he was waiting for love. He said this to Ybón while they were together for the weekend. This quote illustrates that Oscars journey to that weekend was just as important was the weekend itself. All the bad things that he had experienced in life made him recognize and appreciate the goods ones all the more.

"Love was a rare thing, easily confused with a million other things…"

• This quote contains some of Oscars final words to his killers. In his last days, Oscar had come to some powerful realizations. This quote is one of them. This conviction that Oscar has about love, all throughout the book astounds me. The strength that he pulls from it gives him the courage to finally stand up for his love for Ybón and to begin living his life. Although it ended badly, Oscar died having experienced love and wonder that come with it.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao Quote Analysis

" His luck ran out earlier then expected"

• Abelard was wealthy, smart and  a respected individual in his community, during the time of Trujillo. His downfall in life was his beautiful daughter. When Trujillo discovered his daughter and tried to have her as his own, Abelard risked all of his good fortune in order to protect her. In response to this act of defiance, Trujillo utterly destroyed Abelard and the lives of his family. This quote shows the extreme unpredictability of the time of Trujillo. One day you can be on the top of the stack and the next day you are on the bottom. Essentially Trujillo was the bad luck of the entire country.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao Narration Questions

Question 1

• There are three narrators in the first 211 pages of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junto Díaz. The first is an omniscient narrator which describes the early life of Oscar. The second narrator is Oscar's sister Lola, who chronicles Oscar's teenage years. The third narrator is Yunior, a friend of Oscars while he is in college.

Question 2

• I think that Junto Díaz changes narrators in order to change perspectives on the lives of Oscar and his family. Each person related, in any way, to Oscar has a different experience of him. Why Oscar is not the narrator is because the humor, view of the world and raw feeling, the IS Oscar, would not be so visible from his perspective.

Un Señor Muy Viejo Con Unas Alas Enormes Preguntas

1. La vida de Pelayo y Elisenda fue promedio y ellos no tenían muchos servicios. Su casa no era muy agradable. Cangrejos fueron siempre arrastrándose sobre su patio y en su casa. Pelayo tenía un buen trabajo con el ciudad, pero él no hizo mucho dinero. Ellos tenían un hijo que estaba enferma.

2. no me puedo concluir que el ser extraño aquí descripto es un ángel. Yo creo que Márquez destinados a que se trata de un misterio. Yo creo que Márquez quería la audiencia para decidir solo. No puedo decir pero me gustaría creer el ser extraño es un ángel.

3. El más prominate parodia in este cuento fue Márquez comentario en religíon. Márquez se burla de la gente de América Latina dependencia en religíon. Cada vez que un problema la gente de América Latina  siempre llamar un clérigo. Esto sigue ocurriendo en el mundo hoy.
              

Vocabulary from "Un Señor Muy Viejo Con Unas Alas Enormes"

•  Cangrejos: crabs
• Alas: wings
• Navegante: sailer
• Vicino: neighbor
• Gallinero: hen house
• Alambradas: wire
• Sobrenatural: supernatural
• Porvenir: future
• Gallina: hen
• Carta: letter
• Cautivo: captive
• Cobrar: charge
• Único: only
• Cristales de Alcanfor: mothballs
• Papillas de Berenjena: eggplant mush
• Paciencia: patience
• Piedras: rocks
• Mayoría: most
• Averiguar: to find out
• Araña: spider
• Costillas: ribs

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

The aspect I enjoy the most of Junto Díaz's book, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, is his referencing of the mythical "fukú." I enjoy learning about this part of Dominican Republic culture.  Díaz presents his opinions and views on Latin American culture in such a fun and relate able way that it is so easy to read this book.

Un Señor Muy Viejo Con Unas Alas Enormes

So far in my reading of "Un Señor Muy Viejo Con Unas Alas Enormes" I have experiences a writing style and genre that is very new to me. The way that Márquez incorporates classic Latin American culture into his magical realism genre is inspired. I love how his characters are so vivid and his plot is complex and unexpected.

Obras maestras Homework 1.12.11

 Obras Maestras University Courses

• Morehead State University: Offers Masterpieces of Spanish Literature. The description is: reading, analysis, and discussion of literary masterpieces in Spanish. Emphasis on the Middle Ages and the Golden Age. Link: http://www2.moreheadstate.edu/eflp/index.aspx?id=6075
• Yeshiva University: Offers Masterpieces of Latin American Literature. The description is: Major Literary works of Latin America and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. Link:     http://www2.moreheadstate.edu/eflp/index.aspx?id=6075
• Penn State: Offers Masterpieces of Spanish Literature in English Translation. The description is: Study of works and authors of international importance; lectures, readings, and written works in English. Link: http://bulletins.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/university_course_descriptions.cfm?letter=S&dept=SPAN

All of the courses include a study of literature in a Spanish speaking country. They encompass several countries and different topics, but are focused on the most important literary works of Spanish speaking countries.

"Canon" Tarea 1.11.11

1. What is meant by the "canon" with regard to literature.
The term canon is used in literature to refer to a book or a piece of writing that was the most influential in shaping western culture or inspiring a great change.

2. Who is considered among the "canon" in Latin American literature. According to whom?

• José Julián Martí Pérez: was an influential poet, journalist, and essayist in a political time in Cuba. Martí was one of the leading advocates for Cuban independence, stating his opinions through his writing. Pérez spurred a time of political writing in Latin America.
• Emir Rodríguez Monegal: an Uruguayan who wrote the book Mundo Nuevo and inspired the Association of Latin American Literature.
• Mario Vargas Llosa: is Peru's most recognized and controversial writers and journalists. Also a political writer and and a Nobel Prize winner.
• Augusto Roa Bastos: wrote one of the first and most influential dictator novels, Yo, el supremo. He used writing to passively revolt against the dictatorship in his country of Paraguay. 
• Gabriel García Márquez: born in Columbia, was recognized for one of the most influential novels of the 20th century when he wrote Cien Años de Soledad. He contributed massively to both world and Latin American literature.

Many of these authors are recognized by the Latin American community and by the world. Also several literature critics, including Harold Bloom, have declared these writers to be of special importance to Latin American Literature, and to world literature.

3. origines of writers were stated in question 2.