Cultural Components of House of Spirits by Isabel Allende

Literature can have much to say about the culture in which it is written or which it is written about. This is particularly true if the novel, fiction though it may be, entwines fact with fantasy within the plot. Isabelle Allende's The House of Spirits is an excellent example of this. It is the story of a Chilean family that describes their lives through four generations and reveals much about the culture of this Spanish speaking country.

The story opens within a Catholic church and references to Catholicism and various degrees of devotion are meantioned throughout the story. Religion and spirituality appear to be important in this country. Although many Chileans do appear to be Catholic, the story also makes readers aware of other spiritual beliefs that are embraced. There is an emphasis on mysticism that is somewhat of a focal point. One of the main characters is able to speak and commune with the spirits of the dead. She can predict future events and move objects with her mind. This woman studies her abilities and surrounds herself with friends who are similar and who can understand and teach her. Superstition is also seen within the novel. It becomes abundantly clear that important parts of Chilean culture involve the beliefs which exist beyond the visible and tangible world. The acts and rituals that support these beliefs are a part of the lives of the people.

The complexity of family structure is dealt with in great detail within this book. Under one roof there could be a husband and wife, their children, grandparents, and even aunts and uncles. Divorce was not something that was common and even if a married couple did not get along they remained united. This is evident in the marriage of a prominent couple within the story. The husband often cheated on his wife and for years they would not speak to each other at all. Yet they remained married until the day the wife died.

The children within the household of the elite often had nannies that took care of their basic needs. Affection and concern was still given by parents . The poorer families tended to have a more bonded relationship with their children but this is a generalization and not a rule. Families tended to be there for each other when times were rough. This story took place in a time of political conflict however and differing beliefs could sometimes set a parent against a child.

Only legitimate children were recognized by their fathers if the father came from the middle to upper class. This is implied by the behaviors of the main male character within the novel. He owned a tenement farm and sired many children in his younger days with his female workers. He recognized none of these as his heirs, though her did allow his first child to have his first name. Within a short time after his birth the owner forgot that this was his offspring though he saw him many times throughout his life.

When this man's daughter had a child out-of-wedlock with one of his tenents he accepted this child as his grandchild, but he forced his daughter to marry a man of her own class before she gave birth in order to keep up appearances and give the baby some legitimacy. Soon after the marriage the pregnant daughter ran away from her strange and perverse husband and moved back in with her mother and father. She and her daughter lived there for many years, accepted into the fold despite her father's chagrin. She remained married to the man her father gave her to until the day he died, again showing that divorce was not acceptable no matter what the circumstances.

Gender roles within this story were defined, but they changed a bit from the beginning to the end of the story. This is due to the fact that the novel was set to take place over a number of years. In the beginning of the story the wife took care of the home and children. Girls were educated but usually were expected to marry and keep house once grown. Wives were a social asset to elite husbands, attending events and hosting parties. Good wives had well-behaved children could help a husband move up in their careers, particularly politically. The women in the poor community kept house and raised children but also did work to bring income or food into the home. Sometimes they worked alongside men on a tenant farm or did washor mended clothes of the rich as well.

As the story progressed women gained a bit more independence. They attended college and were encouraged to have careers in some cases. Women who were bolder took a giant step by wearing pants instead of the confining dresses they were burdened with in the past.

Politically the last quarter of this story took place in a time of turmoil. The liberals were fighting for fair treatment of all classes and equality among the people. It was a time in which the rich got richer at the expense of the poor and the poor and working class were unwilling to take it any longer. It was a time of revolution. The conservatives saw the revolutionaries as tyrants and fought them at every turn. There was a curfew imposed that was often secretly broken. There were protests, barricades, and much death. The military directed by conservatives to subdue the revolutionaries eventually took over the country. There were tortures and interrogations and murders. The upper and middle classes turned a blind eye to all of this until their own children began to disappear. The children of the conservatives were able to see the injustice that their parents would not and became a part of the movement to improve the lives of the people. Sometimes parents who had all but disowned their liberal children took up the cause themselves by hiding those the military was looking for and by feeding the poor.

Overall this book showed both a dark and a hopeful side to Chilean culture. Families may have sometimes been dysfunctional but they were also united. The country was rich in spirituality, be it through faith in the Catholic church or at home among spirits, cards, and tea leaves. It was a culture that valued the mysteries. This was a country that valued standing up for what one believed was right, even if that belief was false and changed later on. It was a culture that was rich in art, literature and fashion. It was a culture that could stand the test of time and battle and its richness could not be denied.

Works Cited:

Allende, Isabella. The House of Spirits. Bantam Books: New York, 1993.