Chapter 5
The chapter opens up with Eva's madrina birthing a child with two heads, one white and one black. She is believed to be a murderess as citizens find the baby dead at the bottom of the chute. It is later discovered that the baby was a stillborn and Eva's madrina is labelled, "The Little Monster Murdress." This lead to the madrina's eventual psychotic downfall. Due to madrina's psychotic breakdown and constant pestering of Eva's patrona, Eva is fired and moves on to work for a Yugoslavian widow who teaches her about a substance called 'universal matter' and listen to serials on radio. Eva's work there does not last long as her patrona flees, believing the act of young, reckless boys who have smeared dead cats' blood on the house, is a sign of what may happen to her by enemies spying on her. Eva is disappointed as she felt a "sense of belonging" with the sweet widow, but moves on to work for a lonely Minister which she changes his chamberpot on his command. Eva explores and imagines worlds in each of the mysterious, locked rooms. This work does not last long either, as Eva become humiliated with cleaning up after the Minister and dumps his chamberpot on his head. With Elvira gone, and her madrina mentally unstable, Eva runs away, searching for Huberto Naranjo. Huberto takes her to live with La Senora, where she is treated as if she is Huberto's sister. La Senora emphasizes beauty and hygiene, dolling Eva up as Huberto pays for her luxurious clothes and makeup. Melesio, who identifies as a woman trapped inside a man's body, is La Senora's friend who enjoys performing as a night singer. "The Revolt of the Whores" leads to the eventual split of all four of them. Eva is once again abandoned and alone.
Chapter 6
After roaming the streets, Eva is taken to her new home by Riad Halabi, known as "The Turk" in their village of Agua Santa. Riad, a humble, young man, struck with a cleft lip, traveled many places before reaching Agua Santa. When he shows up, he is immediately welcomed by the villagers as he gives a proper wake and burial for the young schoolteacher's son. Riad eventually returns home after requesting to his mother to find him a wife. The multiple day marriage ceremony ties together Riad Halabi and Zulema, his beautiful wife. They live together in Agua Santa after marriage, but bear no children of their own. Zulema is extremely bored and slowly tries to push Riad out of her life, not even attempting to learn much Spanish to interact with the locals. Riad brings Eva to his home, which also has his store connecting to it, to be a daughter-figure to their family. Riad helps her learn how to work the store, hires her a teacher, and treats her like a father. Eva also serves the purpose of keeping Zulema company during Riad's long trips. One day, Riad's cousin, Kamal, visits and the tables turn. During one of Riad's trips, Zulema begins to act seductively towards Kamal, leading to their eventual sex. Eva witnesses the entire thing and is mentally scarred, not completely aware of what happened. Kamal flees, and Zulema is overcome with heartbreak. She refuses to do much of anything except wallow in her grief. When Riad returns, he assumes what has happened, but refuses to ask about it or accept it.
Settings: ‘short distance away’, Move from Patrona to Yugoslavian woman, then member of the Cabinet (chamber pot), back to streets, bar of El Negro, House of la Senora, displaced by revolt of the Whores, Riad takes her in, travel to Agua Santa
New Characters:•Yugoslavian woman
(Universal matter),Cabinet Minister, El Negro, La Senora, Melisio, Riad Halibi, Zulema, School Teacher Inez, Kamal
Discussion Questions:
“For a week, no one talked of anything else; the event overshadowed eve the deaths of two students who had been shot by the Guardia at the gates of the university for waving red flags and singing the “international.” My madrina was called an unnatural mother, a murderess, and a foe to science because she would not give the body to the Anatomical Institute for examination” (104)
This quote highlights two recurring themes in the novel that I'd like to explore. First, there is a consistent pattern in which the political or historical are in the periphery of the personal stories Eva Luna tells. What effect does this have on the personal narratives and why do you think Isabel Allende does this? The seconnd part of the quote deals with the relationship between the physical bodies in the story and science. Why do you think Eva's madrina refused to release the baby's body to the Anatomical Institute? What is Eva Luna's experience and narrative position on science and medicine throughout the story so far? Is it consistent?
"The Yugoslavian patrona sowed in my heart a lasting suspicion of inanimate objects, and ever since I must touch things to know if they are what they seem, or Universal Matter....Porcelana is a dangerous temptation, because once its secrets are known, nothing stands in the way of the artist's copying everything imaginable, constructing a world of lies, and getting lost in it." (108)
In this quote Eva Luns indicates that the "Universal Matter" is dangerous because it can "copy" reality and make the viewer lose sight of the "truth". How do you see this relating to her relationship to storytelling? How does this provide us with a way to think about the question of what is "real" or "true" according to physical appearances?
“He loved others so much that he tried to spare them the unpleasantness of his cleft lip: he always carried a handkerchief in his hand to conceal it; he never ate or drank in public; he rarely smiled; and he tried always to stand either with his back to the light or in the shadow, to hide his defect” (137)
Riad's cleft lip shapes all of his interactions with others. What is it that Eva Luna (and by extension the reader) is to learn from Riad's role in the novel? How does Ria'ds disfigurement provide us with a way of thinking about contemporary views of physical disabilities?
Discussion Questions:
“For a week, no one talked of anything else; the event overshadowed eve the deaths of two students who had been shot by the Guardia at the gates of the university for waving red flags and singing the “international.” My madrina was called an unnatural mother, a murderess, and a foe to science because she would not give the body to the Anatomical Institute for examination” (104)
This quote highlights two recurring themes in the novel that I'd like to explore. First, there is a consistent pattern in which the political or historical are in the periphery of the personal stories Eva Luna tells. What effect does this have on the personal narratives and why do you think Isabel Allende does this? The seconnd part of the quote deals with the relationship between the physical bodies in the story and science. Why do you think Eva's madrina refused to release the baby's body to the Anatomical Institute? What is Eva Luna's experience and narrative position on science and medicine throughout the story so far? Is it consistent?
"The Yugoslavian patrona sowed in my heart a lasting suspicion of inanimate objects, and ever since I must touch things to know if they are what they seem, or Universal Matter....Porcelana is a dangerous temptation, because once its secrets are known, nothing stands in the way of the artist's copying everything imaginable, constructing a world of lies, and getting lost in it." (108)
In this quote Eva Luns indicates that the "Universal Matter" is dangerous because it can "copy" reality and make the viewer lose sight of the "truth". How do you see this relating to her relationship to storytelling? How does this provide us with a way to think about the question of what is "real" or "true" according to physical appearances?
“He loved others so much that he tried to spare them the unpleasantness of his cleft lip: he always carried a handkerchief in his hand to conceal it; he never ate or drank in public; he rarely smiled; and he tried always to stand either with his back to the light or in the shadow, to hide his defect” (137)
Riad's cleft lip shapes all of his interactions with others. What is it that Eva Luna (and by extension the reader) is to learn from Riad's role in the novel? How does Ria'ds disfigurement provide us with a way of thinking about contemporary views of physical disabilities?
Contextual Material:
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| https://www.changingfaces.org.uk/downloads/All%203%20ads.pdf |
Below you will find two links. The first link gives a medical overview of the the physical condition of cleft lip and palate - the condition Riad Halibi struggles with in the story. The second link is a slideshow that shows a series of images of children born with cleft lip and palate who undergo corrective surgery. Please read/watch each of these links for our discussion Monday:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002046/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svtnF2KY3Tw
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