Double narration is a technique used by authors to help intensify the complexity and depth of a story by changing perspective throughout the story. Use different voices to help the reader better understand the character. Double narration can be used for a number of different purposes, but overall it helps make the story better.
The House of the Spirits, written by Isabel Allende, uses this technique in a very interesting way. Instead of showing us the perspective of the main characters or heroes, it uses double narration to give us the perspective of the villain. We are really introduced to Esteban Trueba in Chapter Two, where we meet his character. He was supposed to marry Rosa, who tragically passed away in Chapter One. In Chapter Two, we witness the morally questionable actions of Esteban Trueba, portraying him as a deeply flawed individual. However, it is not until the next chapter that we see Esteban Trueba speaking in the first person and offering his version of the story.
It is in this next chapter that we delve into the inner thoughts and emotions of Esteban
…show more content…
We see Alba being captured by some policemen, which reveals a side of Esteban that we haven't seen before: his intent to do good. Throughout the entire last chapter, he tirelessly strives to win Alba back. In the end, he has a nervous breakdown, sheds tears and pleads for help. 'Then, having waited for her to ask me that, I opened the floodgates of my soul and told her everything; I didn't hold back at all and didn't stop for a second from start to finish. I told her that Alba is my only granddaughter, that I am practically alone in the world, and that my body and soul have withered, just as Férula predicted with her curse. This sentence demonstrates his vulnerability and emotional turmoil. It is evident that he is deeply hurt and truly alone, most likely as a consequence of his own