I enjoyed reading this book because, for the most part, it was the first I’ve read about a main character who was deceased and essentially reflected on her life. This book’s interesting aspect, in my opinion, is that we don’t lose sight of our main character’s perspective even after their death. Given that I knew the main character was dead and was reflecting back on her life, I felt like I nearly read the novel in a different way. Surprisingly, Ana-Maria, who died of a sickness, she still has the ability to see her surroundings, hear, feel, and also think. She rests in her coffin and witnesses, for the final time, the individuals who had brought her joy and misery, giving her the opportunity to think about her marriages and the delusion of perfect love. The protagonist’s romantic life seems dramatic to me. She experiences three separate romantic relationships: one that begins with the beauty of a first love but ends tragically another that involves an unhappy marriage to her husband, and a third that starts with a lover but doesn’t have a satisfying conclusion. She always seems to be unsure of who she truly likes, which causes problems in every relationship. This is the reason I don’t share her viewpoint on love: in my opinion, true love is purified and doesn’t involve a third person. Conventions and expectations from society are depicted as complicating the protagonist’s marriage. Her marriage to her spouse is a symbol of the early 20th-century patriarchal standards. The couple’s marriage symbolizes the limitations placed on women’s roles, and the husband stands in for the stereotypical masculine figure. The main character struggles with the responsibilities that come with being married and longs for a life that is more rewarding and independent. It becomes clear as the story progresses that the protagonist’s emotional needs and romantic aspirations are frequently suppressed inside her marriage. She considers the constraints placed on her by societal norms, which makes her feel frustrated and long for her own independence.
I think this book is really creative, and I think it’s amazing how the author was able to convey such a complicated life in such a clear and simple way. The perceptions that one has after death are very different from those that exist throughout the period of recounting pre-death events and thinking back on previous ideas. Life, in my opinion, offers happy times in addition to its fair amount of difficulties, one just has to be able to withstand trials and tribulations.
Question for the class: “I have a wild longing for an independent life, a life of my own, a life that is not just a reflection of my husband’s and son’s existence.” …. Is this quote selfish?
I also enjoyed reading this book. To answer your question at the end, I think it can be selfish but is not inherently so. Being more than just a reflection of the people are you is an important part of respecting yourself and adknowledging and accepting you own existence. However, your relationships with the people around you and the way you are enmeshed in society is important.
KP, you make a very good point about not losing sight of the main character’s perspective, one that we can assume was missing set aside by those around her while she was still alive. Very good catch of the patriarchy and how it worked in the 20th century — a lot of her style is directly commenting on this. Glad you liked it!
Thanks for your comment!
Hi there! I love reading your analysis of the book and how you tied it to many traditional socital norms in the 20th century. To answer your question, I do not think that it is selfish. No one should be solely identified based off the existence of a husband or son. Yes, you can be associated with them because you are their loved ones, but fundamentally, you are your own person. This can be complex though, because there are certain obligations and commitments you need to fulfil as a mother/wife. However, it is important to remember that you are your own individual.