Sobre la autora y su obra
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Puerto
Rico, 1938 – present
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Writes about feminist type stuff – subtle critique
of woman’s position in society
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Use of magical realism
“La muñeca menor”
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Summary: As a young girl, the aunt gets bitten
by a prawn in a river. She goes to a doctor to get medical help, but he decides
to take advantage of her problem to make money, and doesn’t actually cure her.
Instead, he does monthly “treatments,” so the prawn stays lodged in her leg and
turns into an ulcer that ends up defining her life. She cannot live the life
she had before, so she is more or less stationary but devotes herself to making
dolls for her nieces. She makes a ton of them and pours herself out into them:
they are wonderfully made and very beautiful. She never sells them for profit
though. Instead they are like heirlooms. She treats them like children. She has
three nieces. The youngest one marries the son of the doctor that has been
treating the aunt's wound for twenty years. The young man, who becomes very
wealthy as a doctor, sells the diamond eyes of the dolls the aunt has given to
this niece on her wedding day. He has no soul to speak of--just very
materialistic. After, the doll disappears – the niece says ants must have eaten
it because of the honey inside. In turn, the girl is herself converted into the
doll over time. She gets rid of the doll before her husband can sell it all. He
comes upon her one night and, when he looks into her eyes, he sees lots of
prawns inside of her instead of actual eyes.
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General Observations:
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Tía is powerless against the invasion of this
chágara...parasitic presence.She HAD been beautiful, but becomes a shut-in,
only living through life of service to her sister.
o
Also, she begins by making simple dolls and then
starts making them like life-size barbie version of each daughter. "El nacimiento de una muñeca era
siempre motivo de regocijo sagrado." (The dolls are like
humans....)
o
All of the dolls "habitan" one room in
the house. Tía even goes in and rocks them (in the absence of being allowed to
marry, become a mother, she mothers the dolls). She even makes them bigger by
putting stuffing through their mouth. The girls marry, she gives them
their dolls.
o
Doctor's
son marries because he was intrigued by her "perfil dormido" and,
more raunchily, porque tenía ganas de saber cómo era por dentro la carne de
delfín. When his new wife sits on the balcony, it's like a doll in a
shop window. Also, she makes up a story when he asks her what happened to the
doll parts....ALso, as the years pass, the doctor becomes a millionaire (is it
because he exploits patients like his father had?) As the years pass, she kind
of turns into something of a juicy fruit...At the end, "La muñeca levantó
los párpados y por sus cuencas vacías de los ojos..." (unsure of what's
more real/surreal: woman or doll)
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Themes/Ideas
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Gender
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Men are manipulative and take advantage of women
(doctor, doctor’s son)
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Aunt’s life is representative of woman’s life –
trapped in domestic center of home, pours life into children (dolls)
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"One of the lucid strategies that Ferré
employs to challenge the conventional misrepresentation to introduce the
presence of dolls in the literal, as well as the figurative sens, to show how
the doll, being the stereotypical choice of toy for a girl, encapsulates
societal expectations of behavior and appearance and therefore limits the scope
of possibilities for women by continually reinforcing unrealistic ideals."
o
Magical realism – idea that doll can come to
life, girl can become like the doll, prawns inside her eye sockets (GAH)
“Cuando las mujeres quieren
a los hombres”
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Summary: This is like a pair of internal
dialogues by Isabel Luberza and Isabel la Negra. It's never clear if they are
both part of the same person or not. In any case, Isabel Luberza has lived her
whole life thinking she has the potential to be a prostitute and free herself
from her repressive marital situation in high society. She never exposes a part
of herself immodestly and doesn't really feel like she is living. She defines
herself in terms of her husband, Ambrosio, but when he dies she thinks of
reinventing herself. Isabel la Negra is a business-savvy prostitute that has
been used by Ambrosio throughout the years. He has used her to instruct his
friend's young sons in how to make love. She, in turn, takes this opportunity
to teach them to be gentle lovers instead of machos. They each own part of
Ambrosio's house and, in the end, la Negra wants to rent out Luberza's part to
turn it into a high-class brothel. The two of them come to an understanding
after meeting one another. Isabel Luberza has spent so many years thinking of la
Negra that when she finally sees her it is overwhelming. La Negra feels the
same way.
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Themes/Ideas
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Gender
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Dichotomy of feminine identity: prostitute vs. virgin
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Idea of exploration of appropriate gender roles
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Lack of liberty for women if they want to have
an honorable position
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Men – machismo
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Experimental writing style
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Lack of clear distinction between the two women
or the two versions of Isabel
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Use of dialogue
“La bella durmiente”
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Summary: This story is told through a series of
connected writings instead of one single narration. It begins with two short
letters written anonymously to a "don Felisberto." They are about how
his wife, Maria de los Angeles,
always comes to a sleazy hotel at the same time. Then there is a jump back in
time and the rest of the story unfolds. Maria de los Angeles Fernandez is the daughter of don
Fabiano and has a promising future as a dancer. However, the reverend mother
from her school advises her parents to remove her from the dance troupe. She is
removed from the troupe and goes into a coma. She is awoken by Felisberto who
whispers to her and holds her until she wakes up. Then they get engaged and
married. The wedding is a super big deal, attended by all the right people.
There are various sections described through gossip column articles, others are
letters between different characters (such as between the reverend mother and
don Fabiano). Others are stream of consciousness sections that only make sense
later on and describe the thoughts of Maria de los Angeles. Maria doesn't want the child
that she has 9 months after getting married to be baptized, and her father and
the reverend mother get the idea that something is wrong. Then we find that
Felisberto has received the letters from the beginning of the story. He then
goes to find her at the hotel. It turns out, as we read in a letter sent by don
Fabiano, that his daughter had not wanted to get pregnant because it would mess
with her dancing career. Felisberto had impregnated her anyway, because he felt
insecure about himself. He was making money off her post-birth mediocre dance
career by buying her dance troupe and making money off their performances.
Turns out she was going to the hotel room of her choreographer to practice, but
Felisberto stormed in, tripped, and shot her in the head by accident. Her
choreographer punches Felisberto and knocks him over, where he cracks his skull
and never comes out of the coma. The father says that their baby will be
baptized soon and that their family still has a happy future ahead of it
because of his grandchild.
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General Notes
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anglicisms in spelling and CaPiTaliZatiOn.
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"Mayo 21 de 1973"
-Epistolary format
First card addressed to Don Felisberto
Sarcastic opening paragraph-you're rich and attractive. What more could a girl want? I've been seeing you pass by the beauty shop window.
-Seems like he walks with a woman who is a well-known ballet dancer in the city. Author had admired her, but then realizes that she disguises herself as a servant -"me parece muy feo". And what does she have in her hand? "A una no le es suficiente ser decente, tiene ante todo que aparentarlo." (well, HELLO 16th century!) card is signed, su amiga y admiradora.
She signs with her left hand...also, wearing a leotard (is this the ballet dancer herself?)
-Epistolary format
First card addressed to Don Felisberto
Sarcastic opening paragraph-you're rich and attractive. What more could a girl want? I've been seeing you pass by the beauty shop window.
-Seems like he walks with a woman who is a well-known ballet dancer in the city. Author had admired her, but then realizes that she disguises herself as a servant -"me parece muy feo". And what does she have in her hand? "A una no le es suficiente ser decente, tiene ante todo que aparentarlo." (well, HELLO 16th century!) card is signed, su amiga y admiradora.
She signs with her left hand...also, wearing a leotard (is this the ballet dancer herself?)
o
may 29 1973
F, you didn't take my card seriously. You should accompany your wife and protect her, make her feel fulfilled in life. Don't you love her? This is the room she goes to.
F, you didn't take my card seriously. You should accompany your wife and protect her, make her feel fulfilled in life. Don't you love her? This is the room she goes to.
o
6 april 1971, society column in the newspaper.
Fancy people attended ballet. Prima Ballerina is María, daughter of the alcalde, Fabiano. Names a lot of people from high society, even Liza Minelli. Recaps plot of ballet...village girl in love with Frantz. Again, girl enters house and finds out Coppelia is just a porcelain dall, so jealous Swanhilda smashes it to pieces. Then, shattered doll (María) begins to dance, knocking things over in the room (an improvisation...
Fancy people attended ballet. Prima Ballerina is María, daughter of the alcalde, Fabiano. Names a lot of people from high society, even Liza Minelli. Recaps plot of ballet...village girl in love with Frantz. Again, girl enters house and finds out Coppelia is just a porcelain dall, so jealous Swanhilda smashes it to pieces. Then, shattered doll (María) begins to dance, knocking things over in the room (an improvisation...
o
then, one random super long sentence with almost
no punctuation!?!$(#U(---Carmen Merengue-dancer who dances with no net!
o
9 abril 1971
Sacred Heart school writing to Fabiano re: his daughter. You've been really generous to our school, but hey, in her last performance, your daughter's dress was indecent. Danger to her soul and body!! Her legs are OPEN (gasp!) when she dances.
Sacred Heart school writing to Fabiano re: his daughter. You've been really generous to our school, but hey, in her last performance, your daughter's dress was indecent. Danger to her soul and body!! Her legs are OPEN (gasp!) when she dances.
o
uh-oh...another run-on sentence!
Felisberto proposes to CArmen. He wants to teach her to be a lady. She's not interested. She'd rather dance. (also, she has tetas falsas, fake hair, makeup)
Felisberto proposes to CArmen. He wants to teach her to be a lady. She's not interested. She'd rather dance. (also, she has tetas falsas, fake hair, makeup)
o
14 abril 1971
To Reverend Madre, my wife Elizabeth (English name...) and I got your card. We've decided to take her out of ballet school. She is artistic, but also pious. BUT, we don't want her to be a nun, either, so don't push her that route. She will inherit a fortune from us and we don't want her to marry some ragamuffin who wants her just for her money (LIKE IN THE OTHER STORY!) Notes "quien pierde su capital pierde también el nombre." Compares women to "la joya más preciosa [again, another inanimate object] que un hombre puede guardar en su hogar" I want her to marry someone who will protect and multiply her inheritance. I'll keep donating to you all, but María isn't going to the convent.
To Reverend Madre, my wife Elizabeth (English name...) and I got your card. We've decided to take her out of ballet school. She is artistic, but also pious. BUT, we don't want her to be a nun, either, so don't push her that route. She will inherit a fortune from us and we don't want her to marry some ragamuffin who wants her just for her money (LIKE IN THE OTHER STORY!) Notes "quien pierde su capital pierde también el nombre." Compares women to "la joya más preciosa [again, another inanimate object] que un hombre puede guardar en su hogar" I want her to marry someone who will protect and multiply her inheritance. I'll keep donating to you all, but María isn't going to the convent.
o
17 abril 1971
from the school
We never try to intervene-vocation are a gift from God, so if that's what she wants. (These are SNEAKY little devil nuns!)
from the school
We never try to intervene-vocation are a gift from God, so if that's what she wants. (These are SNEAKY little devil nuns!)
o
27 abril 1971
María is really sick. She's been unconscious 10 days
María is really sick. She's been unconscious 10 days
o
RUN ON! starts with alliteration: punteaando
pellizcando el piso con las puntas...dancing/training a lot. Felisberto brings
his face towards mine (FIRST person narrator), are you my prince? 100
years have passed and everyone is dead so I don't have to worry about silly
social rules anymore. "dame otro beso Felisberto despertó" (These are
her hallucinations or something while she's sick)
o
29 april 1971
Rev. Mother, Our daughter is safe and sound, thanks to divine intervention. Felisberto came to see her; said they had had some sort of little romance. She woke up when he pulled her sheets back. So, we're going to let them get married. Says she'll be wed in a month.
Rev. Mother, Our daughter is safe and sound, thanks to divine intervention. Felisberto came to see her; said they had had some sort of little romance. She woke up when he pulled her sheets back. So, we're going to let them get married. Says she'll be wed in a month.
o
Social News, 20 Jan 1972
Big news! María is engaged. This is going to be on our "irresistiblemente excitante islita." They donated some big money and fancy paintings to the church. (Yet the paper says that the religious ceremony is always a bit lackluster.) Calls its readers "beautiful people"
Big news! María is engaged. This is going to be on our "irresistiblemente excitante islita." They donated some big money and fancy paintings to the church. (Yet the paper says that the religious ceremony is always a bit lackluster.) Calls its readers "beautiful people"
o
María
mom placed that cutout in her bridal album "reino de las novias, antesala
del reino de los cielos."
I. Una idea para el shower. Recommendations for a babyshower (early pinterest, here!)
II. Para toda una vida- traditional bridal gifts, like porcelain china...sterling silver vs. stainless steel, etc. Mentions top brands. Notes that guests will give according to their financial ability (WOW. Gross.)
III. En qué consiste la felicidad?
Not material things (like this article has just mentioned AD FREAKIN' NAUSEUM), but believing in God and being a nice docile wife.
I. Una idea para el shower. Recommendations for a babyshower (early pinterest, here!)
II. Para toda una vida- traditional bridal gifts, like porcelain china...sterling silver vs. stainless steel, etc. Mentions top brands. Notes that guests will give according to their financial ability (WOW. Gross.)
III. En qué consiste la felicidad?
Not material things (like this article has just mentioned AD FREAKIN' NAUSEUM), but believing in God and being a nice docile wife.
o
Mom puts together photo album- A dream come
true!
o
III. Giselle
(María's thoughts again). Says Loys the lover will stop loving Giselle becuse he will finds out she is astuta "y sabe cuando hay intereses creados por el medio el amor es siempre plato de segunda mesa." So maybe Giselle will commit suicide. Or maybe not.
Para Gisells, bailar y rezar son una misma cosa. Giselle doesn't have a body, made of water (like that doll made of honey!!!) Mentions, in a roundabout way, her reluctance to be pregnant because it will change her dancer's body. Yet, Felisberto grabs her arm and forces her to walk through the center of the ship....
(María's thoughts again). Says Loys the lover will stop loving Giselle becuse he will finds out she is astuta "y sabe cuando hay intereses creados por el medio el amor es siempre plato de segunda mesa." So maybe Giselle will commit suicide. Or maybe not.
Para Gisells, bailar y rezar son una misma cosa. Giselle doesn't have a body, made of water (like that doll made of honey!!!) Mentions, in a roundabout way, her reluctance to be pregnant because it will change her dancer's body. Yet, Felisberto grabs her arm and forces her to walk through the center of the ship....
o
Feb 25 1972, social news.
People came to the wedding to see and be seen. Chapel was set up liek a "rumoroso and verde bosque". Mention a/c installed for wedding- "esta es una hábil manera de ganarse el cielo!" María's mom did the decorating. Everything was like diamonds.
People came to the wedding to see and be seen. Chapel was set up liek a "rumoroso and verde bosque". Mention a/c installed for wedding- "esta es una hábil manera de ganarse el cielo!" María's mom did the decorating. Everything was like diamonds.
o
7 december 1972, in English, birth
announcement.
o
same day, school writes letter to Fabiano.
"Exactly 9 months after the wedding!" Let's baptize it- don't leave
"ese querubin moro" but open the gates of heaven for him.
o
13 december 1972,
writing back to rev. mother. we were planning on a beautiful baptism, but imagine how we felt when María decided not to baptize him (HAHAHAH! These cards are ridiculous and funny) His eyes are blue, hair is blonde.
writing back to rev. mother. we were planning on a beautiful baptism, but imagine how we felt when María decided not to baptize him (HAHAHAH! These cards are ridiculous and funny) His eyes are blue, hair is blonde.
o
14 december 1972 (the nuns always respond
quickly)
nun writes to maría- I know your heart. Don't play games with the soul of your child. "Bájate de esa nube y dedícate a tu hijo."
nun writes to maría- I know your heart. Don't play games with the soul of your child. "Bájate de esa nube y dedícate a tu hijo."
o
20 may 1973
Fabiano.
María and I love you in spite of the long silences. Your grandchild is health. Even though María and I have had problems, the kid has been a consolation for me. I miss having your judgement as my compass...as part of marriage, allowed to continue dancing....but, she didn't want to have kids b/c it would change shape of her hips. Confesses humble origin. Even though her career is scandalous, our good name and money is keeping us socially afloat. Yet, she doesn't want child to inherit her fortune, just mine, eclipsing you and your name. So, I feel bad, but I raped her to get her preg.But the child is now a curse for her.
Now, she's got to be prima ballerina again. BUT, I took her to a show and she was dumbfounded by this one dancer. She wont answer me anymore.
And, on top of that, I received an anonymous note in which it says that when she's practicing, it's really a cover for her seeing a man. But, I dont want to leave her. It's like another business of mine-I want it to be successful! Tomorrow, I'm going to check things out.
Fabiano throws away the letter. (was instructed to destroy it)
Fabiano.
María and I love you in spite of the long silences. Your grandchild is health. Even though María and I have had problems, the kid has been a consolation for me. I miss having your judgement as my compass...as part of marriage, allowed to continue dancing....but, she didn't want to have kids b/c it would change shape of her hips. Confesses humble origin. Even though her career is scandalous, our good name and money is keeping us socially afloat. Yet, she doesn't want child to inherit her fortune, just mine, eclipsing you and your name. So, I feel bad, but I raped her to get her preg.But the child is now a curse for her.
Now, she's got to be prima ballerina again. BUT, I took her to a show and she was dumbfounded by this one dancer. She wont answer me anymore.
And, on top of that, I received an anonymous note in which it says that when she's practicing, it's really a cover for her seeing a man. But, I dont want to leave her. It's like another business of mine-I want it to be successful! Tomorrow, I'm going to check things out.
Fabiano throws away the letter. (was instructed to destroy it)
o
Omniscient narrator. In hotel room. With
a man. Yet, "Era virgen en todo lo que decía, hacía, amaba." She just
reads prayers....And during sex, says prayers aloud, too. First time she'd
slept with a man who wasn't her husband and up until now, todo había salido
bien. Picked her up like a prostitute. She just wanted to dance. He was
sleeping on top of her. Dances in the room, naked. "Por primea vez iba a poder ser ella,
bailarina." ...cuts off
o
25
april '74
Estimada amiga.
Thanks for your card of sympathy (María's parents writing to nun) . Now says her wedding was rushed, her spouse was neurotic. I am a victim of this monstruous accident. He made money off of her performances. (an insult that she would work) The day of the accident...I'm surprised Felisberto never wanted her to stop dancing. Her choreographer grabbed her and accidentally threw her on the ground and she became paralyzed. And Felisberto accidentally took out a gun in defense and shot her. Felisberto died too (suicide) Almost a year has passed. Beautitful people and society has shown us an outpouring.
In her casket, in her wedding dress, she looked like her last role in Sleeping Beauty. Their child now lives with us. We'd like him to be baptized and you to be the godmom (GAG!!)
Estimada amiga.
Thanks for your card of sympathy (María's parents writing to nun) . Now says her wedding was rushed, her spouse was neurotic. I am a victim of this monstruous accident. He made money off of her performances. (an insult that she would work) The day of the accident...I'm surprised Felisberto never wanted her to stop dancing. Her choreographer grabbed her and accidentally threw her on the ground and she became paralyzed. And Felisberto accidentally took out a gun in defense and shot her. Felisberto died too (suicide) Almost a year has passed. Beautitful people and society has shown us an outpouring.
In her casket, in her wedding dress, she looked like her last role in Sleeping Beauty. Their child now lives with us. We'd like him to be baptized and you to be the godmom (GAG!!)
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Themes/ideas
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Gender
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Women don’t have liberty
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Use of image of doll for woman (again)
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Some criticism of society / religious
conventions
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Experimental writing
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Switch between various writing styles/formats –
epistolary/letters
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Various narrators/perspectives due to different
letters
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Use of anglicisms and odd capitalization
Thank you this helped a lot!
ReplyDeleteNice job !
ReplyDeleteNice job !
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