- I really like the way the whole book is divided into many distinct parts! Each of them refers to a different story of the past. This kind of structure gently makes us as the reader feel we are involved into each remembered moment, creating the feeling of participating in her memories, while those stories do not seem cumulative to us.At the beginning, she is dead, which means she has lost everything. Later, the text turns back to her past, a time when she still had everything. This contrast makes us wonder whether the narrative is a dream, or whether she has truly died.And the overall tone is very beautiful. For example, at the beginning she describes the rainfall in a vivid way, by depicting the motion of the rainfall, we can imagine the scene while we read it. And when she describe how she remembers Richardo, she did not simply give us his appearance, instead, the narrative is infused with a strong sense of subjective memory and the descriptions of his expressions, giving us the sense that he is not merely a character in a fiction, but as someone vividly alive, and once lived in someone’s memory.
But why does she mention his name so late? Is this simply a narrative technique, or it has some specific purpose behind it?
- Her first love is bitter, even though it was sweet at the beginning, I don’t like the way Ricardo treats her. And also from the way she portrays him as someone who is easily influenced by his mother’s opinions (at least it seems to me like that) and from the way they break up, I don’t think he takes this relationship seriously. As when he claims that “love affairs are not eternal” to excuse the breakup and insists that he is not the one to be blamed, I think it somewhat makes me think he is emotional irresponsible.What is more, she describes her own blood as if it is shared with Richardo’s, implies to the physical and mental bond between them. But I think it is more likely expressing the cost of love?
- And I like how it says: “…for that insignificant boy, that good-for-nothing, you’re making yourself cheap! You who have your life before you, you who can choose the husband you want, you so proud, so intelligent…” (Yes, don’t marry him!!!) Also, she tries to use sex or a threat to keep a man, which gives me the sense that in such a relationship, the person who is more deeply in love often ends up in a lower position (Don’t marry him!!!!!)
6 replies on “Don’t marry him!!!”
Hi, I agree with the details you have shared. I also don’t like how Ricardo treated her in fact I don’t like him at all. I think he was a walking red flag and she was too in love to be able to see that
“At the beginning, she is dead, which means she has lost everything. Later, the text turns back to her past, a time when she still had everything.”
Interesting. But doesn’t she in fact gain things as she dies… not least, *understanding*? And perhaps also peace?
Meanwhile, you focus on the first few chapters… what about later, when we read about the person that she *did* marry. Was that the right decision, do you think?
And how about a question for us? Plus don’t forget to use categories (this week: Bombal) and tags (to indicate key concepts and ideas in your post: marriage? memory? relationships?).
actually no.
I Think she should not marry to Antonio either, even though Richardo hurts her very much which is more active, Antonio also hurts her in a passive way…!
But I am not saying it is a wrong decision, just feel bad for her…
I completely agree with you that Ricardo sucks. While I do think that their love was real, it was also so toxic. And if they really were meant to be, he wouldn’t have abandoned her.
I also believe Ricardo was not the man to marry, but this also holds true for Antonio. They were both unfaithful and toxic towards Ana. Honestly, most of the characters (including Ana Maria) were lowkey red flags, especially with the standards of today’s. After all, this was written from Ana’s perspective, so we as readers wouldn’t exactly know if it was Ricardo or Antonio who were actually toxic, or if Ana herself was as toxic as them in truth.
I definitely agree that Ricardo was a shitty dude especially when he dismissed her so casually when she wanted to go on for the long run. the shifting of blame didn’t help either! However, even if he was emotionally not ready to go all in and he should’ve handled the break up- splitting up? much better, I do think at one point in time their love was real. Definitely turned toxic over time but I do think he loved her. Regardless, that doesn’t excuse his behaviour. I feel Ana also had her red flag moments and that cycle continued on till the very end- be it with Antonio or Fernando. Just issues that never resolved from both parties.