Literary Analysis For Isabel Allende's The House Of The Spirits

Literary Analysis for The House of the Spirits

For many people, family is one of their core values. One specific author who focuses on family and accurately displays the struggles within the household is Isabel Allende in her novel The House of the Spirits. This sensational novel deals with family matters, politics, and everywhere in between. Because of her blunt writing style, Allende is adored for the relatable characters she portrays throughout her novel. Isabel Allende’s novel The House of the Spirits is one that conveys the uncertainties of life, whether within oneself, family, or position in society.

Throughout the novel The House of the Spirits, many themes can be observed. One of the major themes Allende portrays in her novel is the

In the book, one of the main characters, Clara, is clairvoyant and performs psychic actions quite frequently; “But Clara seemed to be flying in an airplane...consulting spirits with a three-legged table that gave little jolts…” (Allende) Clara expresses these powers even as a young child; “...the saltcellar would suddenly begin to shake and move among the plates and goblets without any visible source of energy or sign of illusionist’s trick,” (Allende 8). In Allende’s own adolescence, her grandmother would read cards, which Allende was exposed to, perhaps opening her mind up to the supernatural realm. Another striking similarity between the novel and the author’s life is both families, fiction and nonfiction, were involved with politics. Allende’s father was heavily involved with politics, as was Clara’s father; “Severo del Valle was an atheist and a Mason, but he had political ambitions…” (Allende 4). Not only was Allende’s father involved with politics, but her cousin was as well. In fact, he was the president of Chile. Being the highest rank of the Chilean government, this eventually led to his demise; his position cost him his life. Similarly, Clara’s husband, Esteban, is a senator, and even though he does not physically die from his ranking, his involvement and ambition kills his mental being and his bond with his family; “He (Senator Trueba) was very busy with politics and his business, traveling constantly, financing new political campaigns, buying land and tractors, raising race horses, and speculating on the price of gold, sugar, and paper,” (Allende