Isabel Allende's And Of Clay Are We Created

Often we come across the saying, "People who hide their feelings usually care the most." In Isabel Allende's And Of Clay Are We Created, the author writes about the main character, Rolf Carlé who shows a sense of determination with his selfless concern for the well being of others, but also has a hidden dark past that he doesn't often express. This short story is based upon a volcano eruption in Colombia where more than 23,000 people were killed, during this time, the vast majority of the media was focused on a thirteen year old girl trapped in the mud. Through this account, the author introduces the reader to Rolf Carlé who shows his complexity by being determined and afflicted while also representing larger themes of the short story such
as showing how an individual can be whole on the outside but falling to pieces within. To begin with, this character is best represented as determined when Rolf Carlés wife talks about her amazement in how Rolf keeps his composure as he tries to help save lives that are in danger everyday. This allows the character to represent someone who longs to save others and has to be determined to do so in order to accomplish tasks. "Nothing could stop him, and I was always amazed at his equanimity in the face of danger and suffering; it seemed as if nothing could shake his fortitude..." (Allende 1) The author uses reactions from his wife to portray the character as someone who can keep calm while being determined to push through the situation he was put in. As Rolf attempts to pull the thirteen year old girl, Azucena out of the mud pit he makes a commitment, "'Don't worry, we'll get you out of here,' Rolf promised." (Allende 2) Through spoken words he makes a promise, this means Rolf is declaring that something will be done to get Azucena out. His assurance shows that he will do anything in his power to save a helpless individual which also displays his determination greatly. By understanding the main characters determination it represents a larger theme of the novel such as not giving up so fast and not stopping until you get it. Furthermore, the character is also accurately represented as someone who is afflicted as the author shows Rolf coming to the realization that he tries to hide behind a lens rather than facing the true perspective of life.
This allows the character to represent as someone who often deals with inner pain while putting on a front as a shell to hide what he truly feels. "He understood then that all his exploits as a reporter, the feats that had won him such recognition and fame, were merely an attempt to keep his most ancient fears at bay, a stratagem for taking refuge behind a lens to test whether reality was more tolerable from that perspective." (Allende 5) The author used Rolf's inner thoughts to exhibit how he covers up what he feels and hides behind the idea of reality rather than pure perspective. While having time to himself, Rolf begins to reflect on his past, "That night, imperceptibly, the unyielding floodgates that had contained Rolf Carlé's past for so many years began to open, and the torrent of all that had lain hidden in the deepest and most secret layers of memory poured out, leveling before it the obstacles that had blocked his consciousness for so long." (Allende 4) Through Rolf's inner thoughts the readers begin to illustrate the main characters feeling of despair which shows how he leaves his emotions locked up rather than facing them, and after awhile begins to let his emotions build up until he hits rock bottom. This allows us, as readers to understand
a larger theme of the short story such as how one might seem a certain way on the outside but holds a lot of depth inside.