Ester Lucero
Shazeda Patel
100202795
Karen Budra
English 1127
April 1, 2013
Ester Lucero
Mango
“From the time I was very young, as long as I could remember, I have felt the world is magic, that there are two realities: one that is palpable… and the other one, the night reality of secrets… a lunar reality”- Isabel Allende (14 De Zapata). Isabel Allende is a Chilean woman who was raised in various locations around the world. Since her father left her when she was a child she lived with her mothers side of the family, a family who had a strong political background. Allende is a “feminist” (40 De Zapata) who challenged equality in the streets of Chile. This attribute of Allende helps decipher the theme in her story about a thirty-year-old man who falls in love with an eleven-year-old girl, named Ester, and must find a way to keep her in his life. In the course of the short story, “Ester Lucero” Isabel Allende challenges the boundaries between: fantasy and reality, good and evil, and social norms and personal desire through the theme of magic. Angel is man of logic and fact these types of characters typically have a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how he or she will interpret and respond to situations; but Angel is able to forget the logic and cross over to the magical realm. In the story the reader learns that Angel is a doctor and a previous soldier who approaches situations in systematic logical ways. Which is why Angel’s reaction easily accepted when Ester arrives at the hospital where he “operated, he gave her Injections, he transfused her with his own blood, shot her full of antibiotics”(93 Allende). This proves that Angel follows procedures and regimes in a systematic manner. But when the facts failed to revive Ester, Angel turns to magic. The moment where Angel removes the clothes and shoes “he always wore”(95 Allende) is the same moment he enters a magical realm. Angel does not just simply smear crushed up herbs on Ester,
100202795
Karen Budra
English 1127
April 1, 2013
Ester Lucero
Mango
“From the time I was very young, as long as I could remember, I have felt the world is magic, that there are two realities: one that is palpable… and the other one, the night reality of secrets… a lunar reality”- Isabel Allende (14 De Zapata). Isabel Allende is a Chilean woman who was raised in various locations around the world. Since her father left her when she was a child she lived with her mothers side of the family, a family who had a strong political background. Allende is a “feminist” (40 De Zapata) who challenged equality in the streets of Chile. This attribute of Allende helps decipher the theme in her story about a thirty-year-old man who falls in love with an eleven-year-old girl, named Ester, and must find a way to keep her in his life. In the course of the short story, “Ester Lucero” Isabel Allende challenges the boundaries between: fantasy and reality, good and evil, and social norms and personal desire through the theme of magic. Angel is man of logic and fact these types of characters typically have a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how he or she will interpret and respond to situations; but Angel is able to forget the logic and cross over to the magical realm. In the story the reader learns that Angel is a doctor and a previous soldier who approaches situations in systematic logical ways. Which is why Angel’s reaction easily accepted when Ester arrives at the hospital where he “operated, he gave her Injections, he transfused her with his own blood, shot her full of antibiotics”(93 Allende). This proves that Angel follows procedures and regimes in a systematic manner. But when the facts failed to revive Ester, Angel turns to magic. The moment where Angel removes the clothes and shoes “he always wore”(95 Allende) is the same moment he enters a magical realm. Angel does not just simply smear crushed up herbs on Ester,
Cited: Allende, Isabel. “Ester Lucero.” Introduction to Literature. Ed. Natalie Danner. Canada: Pearson Learning Solutions, 2012. 91-96. Print. De Zapata, Celia Correas, and Margaret Sayers Peden. Isabel Allende: Life and Spirits. Arte Público Press, 2002. Harrelson, Walter J. The Ten Commandments and Human Rights. Mercer University Press, 1997. "Isabel Allende." BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2013. 2 April 2013. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/i/isabelalle412253.html