When I first read Mercè Rodoreda’s novel The Time of the Doves, I initially thought it would be somewhat wholesome and heartfelt — based on the name and love story presented. However, I was thoroughly mistaken. Similar to the other texts in this class, it made me feel many overwhelming emotions: sadness, shock, and anger. The main character — Natalia — suffered loss after loss and horror after horror. It seemed like the story would never reach a happy ending, and fittingly, the ending was bittersweet. Although this text is admittedly not a happy read, it is notably very illuminating. Many themes can be seen throughout the story; from war, grief, anxiety, domestic violence, manipulation, and more. 

Amazingly, while the text is simply written, it is still very complex and intricate. Mercè Rodoreda does a fantastic job detailing scenes and metaphors. Additionally, I was able to sympathize and connect with Natalia as the story progressed. Which added an interesting and challenging layer when she committed questionable or downright concerning actions. 

The characters surrounding her also made me feel annoyed and conflicted, especially with Quimet. Here, we can find a solid connection to doves mentioned in the story, as his character is seemingly (and unhealthy) obsessed with birds and Natalia. 

Natalia meets Quimet while all dressed in white and is identified as the bird by him. This can appear charming, based on the notion that doves represent love and peace. But it is notable to account that they can also represent a quiet innocence and purity. The moment I read that scene, I felt wary. I was unsure if Natalia felt the same or encaptured by his words, but I was praying she’d run away from this man. This may be because of my own personal bias, but any person who is interested in another because of their “innocent” appearance and is bold enough to tell them is a red flag. STAY CLEAR OF THESE PEOPLE, TRUST ME. 

I felt that there were many warning signs for Natalia at the beginning of the story. Particularly the scene where Quimet and Natalia see and discuss blackbirds. Quimet himself notions the bad luck attached to them as they fly near them. This does help explain plot points in a literary sense, but also sneakily tells the readers his later of his true deposition. 

I could be reading into the text too much, but Mercè Rodoreda does make an effort to expand doves and birds into her text (not just in a literal sense). Particularly, Natalia thinks of her children as eggs, delicate and vulnerable enough to shake and invoke a fury of doves and war while deciding to kill them. Furthermore, Natalia recalls a time when she was happy, represented by the memory of a free and careless bird in the sky at the end of the story. 

Notably, each mention of these doves or birds is significant. The title should indicate this plainly. However, it is more profound than just peace or freedom, as vulnerability, bad omens, pain and sentimentality are notable.

Question: Do you see any warning signs for Natalia at the beginning of the story? What are other correlations to the characters or events you can connect to doves?

(Please response in the leave your thought section)