The House on the Lagoon by Rosario Ferre Essay

 The tale appears to be straightforward on the surface area.

However , when reading that, so many undercurrents appear which it becomes a delightful experience to discover the countless detailed aspects. Many special features and fashions of composing adorn the book. Essentially the most well known, the most discussed and perhaps one of the most exciting may be the concept of two distinct narrative voices. At first, the book proceeds as being a simple family history and ancestors being retold by a woman.  The dual narrative enables a more democratic unfolding of the story compared to a single story.

It permits us to find out Quintin’s reactions to his wife’s narration of his family history. It places in more movement into a mundane story of family history. Their arguments maintain the narration alive and keep someone guessing at reality plus the next sequence of incidents. Also, there is also a marked big difference in the ways Quintin and Isabel way the story. Quintin, even as are told, has been a pupil of history in Columbia.

To him, misinterpretation of facts and misinterpretation of history is a gross error and in addition, he can extremely self conscious because of the way his family is described in a poor light by simply his better half. On the other hand, Isabel feels that her key objective is to gain fictional fame and she is not really concerned with getting historically, socially or noteworthy correct. While reading the book, we are thus cured to Isabel’s views then we read her husband’s comments and views on her writing.

This permits for a multiple perspective presentation and the characteristics of character types becomes more engrossing than the story that they are both trying to tell inside their own way.  It has become argued which the dual narrative serves selected higher purposes than simply informing us the dual viewpoints on the account. The dual narrative have been construed as being a metaphor for colonization[1]. Rosario’s ebooks usually deal with the conflicts plaguing her native area Puerto Vasto, the major one particular being whether to remain impartial or turn into a part of the ALL OF US. In the book, through dual narrative, Rosario endeavors to bring out their conflict.

Isabel, the writer’s alter ego, presents Puerto Vasto while her husband symbolizes the ruling influence in the US. Thus multiple perspectives enable the writer to demonstrate Puerto Rico’s quest for personality and her constant struggle against foreign dominance.  Another interesting characteristic of the book is the symbolism that is used to illustrate particular finer items[2]. Right from the initially scene, where there is a confrontation between the boy serenading Isabel and her fiancé Quintin, we have a glimpse into the strong personas that we can encounter further on available.

It also illustrates that Quintin has a violent streak. The relationships involving the characters happen to be brought out after in the book. Especially evident is definitely the marital discord between Quintin and Isabel over the issue of her novel which usually Quintin feels paints his family black. Later in the book, we are furnished with another extremely vivid field which portrays the reason why Isabel is so haunted by her past.

Isabel’s mother was forced to provide an abortion simply by her granny. This abortion was probably botched and the description with the scene from the child’s point of view sends shivers down the readers’ spine. The gory details such as the pool of blood, the subconscious mother as well as the dropping with the doll are all images which will haunt you as much as they have to have haunted the young girl. It does not only lets us know of Isabel’s miserable past but also provides us an understanding of the person she is in the present and why. In addition, it helps all of us to identify with her desire making it big as the lady wishes to flee the fag that her female ancestors and forefathers went through.

 Also noteworthy inside the novel is definitely the daydreams that Isabel indulges herself with. Her past is so woebegone that your woman tries to absorb herself in passionate uses of her dreams and reveries. These reveries lull us right into a false sense of secureness until the peace and quiet before the surprise breaks using a shattering episode. This sense of the sudden renders the narrative far from banal.

One of the most interesting of her joy and indulgence appears towards the end of the story when she enrolls into a entracte school to satisfy her enthusiasm. This wish, like that to become a famous writer, reveals Isabel’s desire to have fame. The lady enjoys her dancing lessons immensely and we are once again forced to anticipate some happiness coming her way. Nevertheless , our expectations are shattered brutally by public display of pedophilia as the curtain starts at the incorrect time during her stage performance.

Once again, Isabel finds herself mistreated and miserable. The ending of the storyline is thus somewhat tragic and in synchronize with the mood of the whole story.  In conclusion, it ought to be said that an interest as common as the relation of family history is created extraordinary by excellent design of Rosario Ferre and her unique producing style such as the double narratives, the images and the reveries.

Her strong characters support us understand human psyche and also provide insight into using the political and social problems of Puerto Rico through the characters. Eventually, the novel turns out to be higher than a story of marital discord or a lien of family history and ancestors. It helps us to understand history, politics, sociology, psychology and in addition literature.

Handful of novels are able to achieve this kind of high goal. WORKS MENTIONED http://voices.cla.umn.edu/vg/Bios/entries/ferre_rosario.html http://voices.cla.umn.edu/vg/Bios/entries/ferre_rosario.html