Unraveling 'The House of the Spirits': A Chilean Saga

'The House of the Spirits': A Chilean Saga

'The House of the Spirits' is a novel that spans several generations and encompasses significant political changes. Although never explicitly stated, the story is undoubtedly set in Chile.

The narrative begins with Clara's notebooks, but Esteban Trueba is the only character who lives throughout the entire saga. He, like his father before him, becomes deeply involved in politics, as was typical of the oligarchy of the time. The novel begins in the first decade of the twentieth century, and various historical and social events mark the lives of the characters:

• The Roaring Twenties
• The arrival of the first cars
• The advance of troops in World War II
• The prosperity of Chile as a pantry for a Europe in crisis
• The arrival of famous immigrants, like the Count Satigny
• The demonization of communism by the right
• The great earthquake of 1960

As events unfold and relationships between characters become cyclical, Chilean society is depicted as a large, mostly illiterate and impoverished working class laboring on farms, in stark contrast to the educated and affluent oligarchic minority. This contrast is highlighted through characters like Peter White, Nicholas and Amanda, Dawn and Michael. Attempts to bridge the gap between these classes are often thwarted by the deep divide that separates them.

Interestingly, the author's treatment of the exploitation of the poor never descends into Manichaeism. Esteban Trueba is portrayed as neither entirely good nor entirely bad in his treatment of the farmers.

The Shift to Realism

The final chapters of the novel transition from magical realism to a more starkly realist narrative. The victory of the socialist candidate and the subsequent agrarian reform, coupled with the boycott of foreign investors and domestic enterprises, clearly reflect the government of Salvador Allende from 1970 to 1973. Esteban represents a vast segment of Chilean society that lived in fear of communism and called for armed forces intervention. However, like everyone else, he eventually repents for what transpired. Stephen Garcia embodies the need to hate, an inevitable product of such an unfair society.

Atrocities and Contradictions

From this point, the novel reports a series of atrocities that contrast sharply with the image of order and beauty that the country tries to project abroad. Alba's character navigates between clandestine activities and the superficial normalcy of supermarkets full of delicacies, streets without beggars, and slums hidden behind walls to shield tourists from their existence.

Divided Society

Society under oppression is sharply divided into two camps: those who are older and flee, like Blanca and Pedro Tercero, and young people who still hope for change and stay to fight, like Alba and Miguel.