Casa de los espritus The House of the Spirits

Isabel Allende

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L2SvRPC2wo Set more or less in Chile

covers more or less the 20th century through 1980

the novel juxtaposes historical, fictional and familial characters time progresses generationally as opposed to strictly chronologically there is a clear and marked political subtext Magic Realism is highly evident--strange &/or magical events are taken for granted as part of the characters reality; there is a strong sense of irony present; there is a sense of playfulness in the humor; socio-political satire is combined with an oral history style of discourse

Allendes biography, Chilean history & novel intimately connected

Salvador Allende, her fathers cousin, founded the Chilean Socialist party in 1933 Isabel grew up with her maternal grandmother--who practiced telekenisis--and grandfather--a strong willed, ill-tempered man. Both were strict traditional Catholics. She was sexually abused by a family acquaintance at age 8 Her political activism forced her and her then husband into exile in Venezuela. The novel began as a letter to her 100 yr. old dying grandfather.

2006-2010 Michelle Bachellet. She has just announced plans to run again.

a bit of Chilean history

1938Pres. Cerda elected [a Right-Wing Radical]. Opposed by Socialists and Communists who wanted to legalize agricultural unions. 1939 A massive earthquake leaves 70,000 homeless & poverty-striken. 1946 Left-Wing Radicals gain presidency & legalize agricultural unions. The Right-Wing remains in control of Congress and they outlaw the Communist party in 1948 1952 women vote for the 1st time 1958 voting made compulsory and secret. Communist party allowed to return. Frente de Accin Popular [Soc + Com]

1962 Congress passes Ley de Reforma Agraria, theoretically eliminating hacienda system and redistributing farm lands to campesinos, who could buy the land from the patrones. BUT, since they were mostly paid in vouchers, they couldnt accumulate savings with which to buy the land. 1964 Christian Democratic candidate, backed by $2.6 million contribution from CIA, wins corrupt election over S. Allende 1967 hacienda system officially ended. Campesinos given rights to organize and strike. Funds made available for purchasing land. New revolutionary group appears at University of Concepcin; several protests turn violent. 1969 Unidad Popular forms when Socialist, Communist, Radical and Social-Democrats form electoral commission 1970 S. Allende runs as UP candidate, wins. CIA funds opposition with $8 million

1973 Military coup lead by Gen. Augusto Pinochet storms presidentinal palace. Allende overthrown and either killed or commits suicide. 1990 democracy restored in Chile

2 more famous Chileans

Pablo Neruda 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature

It was announced 4/9/13 that Nerudas remains are to be exhumed and examined for poison. He died in 1973, shortly after the death of Salvador Allende, a friend. He had just announced his intentions to go into exile in Mexico, when he succumbed to prostate cancer. Or did he.....???? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/worl d-latin-america-22131916

Within the context of this novel, he is the poet. We see references to his first volume of poetry, one of the most popular of all times in Spanish (and also very popular in translation): 20 poemas de amor y una cancin desesperada / 20 love poems and a song of despair. These have been memorized by millions, set to music, passed from generation to generation...... http://www.poemhunter.com/pab lo-neruda/poems/ http://www.ciudadseva.com/text English os/poesia/20poemas.htm espaol

Chilean folksinger Victor Jara (19321973) was the voice of his country's dispossessed, an internationally admired songwriter, and one of the founders of a new genre of Latin American song. He was killed by Chilean security forces during the coup that deposed the country's elected president, Salvador Allende, in September of 1973.Read more: http://www.notablebiographies.com/supp/Suppleme nt-Fl-Ka/Jara-Victor.html#ixzz2QSsCKJba

Victor Jara

On 1/3/13, 4 ex-military officials were arrested in connection with his death.

http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=BfEHz5gBWHY

Ruben Dario (1867-1916)

Father of Modernism in Latin American literature read by Satigny and dandified friend

1950s style

Liberation Theology--radical priests

1.Advocating class struggle :Church ought to be active where people/social classes struggle 2.Advocating Marxs idea of violent revolution: revolutionary violence can be justified to bring change in the face of the institutionalized violence of the state 3.Marxist view of good life on earth: advocates salvation is not only some other worldly condition but the construction of social justice in the existing world.4.Believes that Christ was a political liberator-message of revolution in the Bible 5.Advocates class consciousness: importance of education in generating social consciousness.

flamenco dancing http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=mxN0HSWzx3E

Oscar Romero-El Salvador.

Jean Bertrand Aristide--Haiti

Ernesto Cardenal-Nic.

Marquis de Sade

Incan pottery

Moche pottery

Inca mummies

Marc Chagall