It was painful to read — not only about the difficulty of the book, but also the tragic feeling, maily from the love, I could look through Ana Maria’s life. As I follow Ana Maria’s life, from the “cowardly desertion” of Ricardo, her first love, lunatic jealousy of Silvia towards Maria Griselda, and marriage “out of spite” with Antonio, those pain and anxiety from her made me even hurt to read through.

“Why, oh why must a woman’s nature be such that a man has always to be the pivot of her life?” (226)

“[…] when her father had said to her: “Child, kiss your fiancé.” She had then obediently approached this man so handsome…and so rich;” (221)

Throughout the story, it is candidly drawn the invisible hierarchal inequality between man and woman in the relationship in 1930s. Although it was not explicitly stated, men who engraves the scar in Ana Maria’s life, the tendency that they care their lives and “hecinada” shows that they looked down on women. It was interesting to see how Bombal women endured the pain with the life story of Ana Maria.

I am a man, who is living in 21st Century. It was quite a shock to see how painful to live as a woman, and how heavy the pain and constrain they should endure in their life. Indeed, it was not the only reason why Ana Maria was suffering in her life, but it must not be negate the fact that the main source of her pain is from men.

“It was a sunny morning and the day gave promise of being radiantly beautiful. Against the stained glass of the windowpanes dragonflies beat in great numbers. From the garden rose the cries of the children running after each other with the sprinkling hose.” (226)

One thing I want to point out is that, despite all the events are against her, which gives the emotional pain, all the settings and expression she is using is contradictorily romantic. It gives a polarized feeling in one story. I think it is a perfect metaphor of life — life is full of “death of the living” (259), but also there are a few glimpse of beauty.

Story-wise, I think it is really important element of this story. For me, as a reader, it gives some room to breathe out. Within the tragic story, it might be easier to be negatively affected emotionally as a force of sympathy. These romantic expressions and lines provides us some space to step back, and neutralize the tragic life story.

Question. Do you feel constraint, or suffering, in daily life as a women? & Do you think women is still under pressure as a men?