Topic > Contexts of The House of the Spirits - 825

Isabel AllendeIsabel Allende is one of the most successful contemporary Latin American writers. She was born in Lima in 1942. However, Allende is Chilean. As a child she traveled throughout Latin America and beyond, thanks to her father and stepfather's diplomatic careers. She worked in Chile starting in 1967 after marrying Manuel Frías and giving birth to Paula and Nicolás. But due to political tensions in Chile, Allende and his family fled to Venezuela in 1975. 20 years later, his daughter Paula dies of porphyria. Published in 1982, The House of the Spirits was Allende's first book. Other works include “The Tales of Eva Luna”, “The Infinite Plane” and “The City of Beasts”. Literary contextMagical realismBefore the publication of The House of the Spirits, magical realism was a literary genre very present in Latin American countries in the 1960s and 1970s. Although this genre had already existed before, it flourished as a way of reacting to the dictatorships that occurred in Latin America during this period. The work One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez is an example of magical realism. Other writers of this literary movement include Julio Cortazar and Miguel Ángel Asturias. In magical realism, the marvelous is presented as real and the characters perceive it as part of normality. In The House of the Spirits we can see, for example, Clara's telekinesis abilities or the strange beauty of Rosa with her green hair and white complexion. Historical-political contextAlthough the work does not talk about it directly, the work The House of spirits reflects events in the history of Chile in the 20th century The First World WarDuring the chapter...... middle of paper......smo and the lack of resources. Represented by the Garcías, the lower class is subjugated. The upper class The Chilean oligarchy is made up of capitalists and owners like Esteban Trueba. Although it is a small group, they develop the political and economic course of the country to suit their own economic interests. On the other hand, they reject left-wing views and have a conservative bent. Compared to the lower class, the upper class holds a superior position and uses violence and paternalism to demonstrate its authority towards the lower classes. Especially in rural areas like Tres Marías, they own and control the infrastructure, including schools, transportation, banks and hospitals. Motivation Through this work, we examine the history of Chile and, through it, the history of Latin America..