Eva Luna was my introduction into the world of Isabel Allende’s novels and I have to admit that in the beginning I had to struggle with the stereotype of “romantic pulp novels” to get myself through the first twenty-five – thirty pages (Wilson). I think that a reader, in this case me, starts to appreciate a novel as soon as he or she finds something in this work that speaks only to her. For me, such a segment of the novel was the variety of characters of women depicted by Allende throughout the story. The personal and social struggle of these women was of great interest to me particularly because of a time frame in which the story took place - the first half of the twentieth century. It was not only a period of active introduction of such political ideas as world social revolution and communism in Russia, and Nazism in Germany, it was also a stage when even in the western world women did not enjoy complete freedom.

The figures that seem the most interesting to me were La Senora, Mimi,

in her life gave birth to stories that eventually became Eva’s main resource of surviving in the outside world. As a little girl, she entertained her madrina with stories in exchange for temporary care; Huberto Naranjo after being told one of Eva’s stories says: “That’s a stupid story…But, all right, I would like to be your friend” (Allende 66). Eva created her characters and because they were the basis of her inner world, she also learned from them to be better, or sometimes worse and to say “no” whenever something threatened her friedom; she rebelled against the patrona that did not let her look at marine painting, and she poured a bowl of his own excrements on the head of her insipid patron.

La Senora was fond of Eva, a little girl that came into her life from nowhere and fascinated her with stories. Such a sentimental tie for such a practical lady! I think that almost in every aspect of her life La Senora was a bit superficial, and even her affection for Eva reminded me of the way she treated that Spanish doll that they kept on the bed in the apartment. When the crucial letter written by Melesio led to massive arrests in Calle Repuclica and ultimately to the Revolt of Whores, La Senora running to save herself and leftovers of her possessions leaves Eva in the middle of the street fights in her fear of being accused of corrupting minors. She knew that at the times of political chaos, uncontrollable police, and lost values no one would believe that a whorehouse keeper could simply care for a teen-age girl (131).

Eleven chapters of Allende’s novel made a life of a woman. Actually, in the case of Eva Luna, she was the one who shaped her life just “…the same way that Eva Luna can mold ‘La Materia Universal’ into anything she wishes…” (Rehbein). After the death of her mother, Eva’s journey through numerous ‘patronas’ began. Too often life as a servant ends in a typical way as we saw in Eva’s ‘madrina’ or abuela’s destinies. The question what saved Eva from roughening with the harsh realities of domestic chores can be answered with her rebellious character and great world of imagery.

Without her patronas knowing this, Eva in a way exploited them: people she met

Women characters do dominate the novel, and in many situations they play vital role. It is very important to understand how necessary our inner and outer freedom is for us, women, to carry on those vital roles. I derive a very inspirational message from “Eva Luna” and believe that I can shape my life as Universal Matter.

and, of course, Eva Luna (I hope I was allowed to include Mimi in this list). I think that in the lives of these three women the struggle for personal and social success and fulfillment took especially dramatic character on the background of political chaos, financial hardships, and society controlled by men.

Some topics in this essay:
La Senora, La Senora’s, Eva Luna, Eva Mimi’s, Riad Halabi, Materia Universal’, Huberto Naranjo, Isabel Allende’s, Senora Mimi’s, Eva Luna’s, la senora, la senora’s, eva luna, la senora latter, senora latter, political chaos, little girl, cuaderno de, story telling, la senora life, variety characters, personal social,