The Shroud: A Story of Love, Loss, and Remembrance
The Shroud
A Story of Love, Loss, and Remembrance
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This book is about a woman named Anna Maria who dies from a heart attack. While in her coffin, surrounded by relatives, she remembers moments from her life with each person who comes to see her.
There was Zoila, her lifelong friend and confidante. Zoila had been like a second mother to Anna Maria, especially after her real mother passed away when she was a child.
Anna Maria also remembers her children. Anita, her 20-year-old daughter, was a married woman with two children. Her husband, Alberto, was very jealous, which caused tension in their marriage and angered Anita.
Her other son, Fred, was the darling of his mother. He was a curious and mischievous child.
After a while, Anna Maria hears the sound of horses approaching. This triggers a memory of Ricardo, her first love. She remembers her pregnancy with him when they were young. Although they were friends, their relationship turned romantic, and she became pregnant. However, upon learning about the pregnancy, Ricardo abandoned her, leaving her heartbroken. She eventually lost the baby.
She also remembers her father and the fear she felt when she discovered she was pregnant with Ricardo’s child. She was terrified of his reaction and hid the pregnancy from him.
Anna Maria sees her sister, Alicia, standing before her. Alicia was a devoutly religious woman. They grew up together in a Catholic school, where Alicia was pious and prayerful, while Anna Maria was mischievous and rebellious.
Fernando, her lover, is also present. He seems to be content, even happy, that Anna Maria is finally at rest. He confesses that he always felt responsible for solving her problems. He also tells her about the death of his wife, Agnes, and how she seemed strangely calm before taking her own life with a drug called Veronal.
Finally, Anna Maria remembers her husband, Antonio. He was a cold and distant man. At first, she didn’t love him, but after they separated, she realized her true feelings for him and returned home. However, Antonio remained emotionally unavailable and unfaithful.
As she is being carried in her coffin, Anna Maria hears Father Charles’ voice. She recalls a conversation they had about heaven. When asked what she wanted for the afterlife, Anna Maria replied that she wanted to be earthly, grounded in the physical world. She also remembers when she fell ill and Father Charles offered to hear her confession. She postponed it, saying she was expecting the doctor. However, her condition worsened, and she received last rites. It was in that moment of truth that she began to die and experience the death of the dead.
Anna Maria reflects that she could have chosen to return to life, but she desired rest, to embrace death.
III. Third Flat
1. Characters:
Protagonist: The main character is Anna Maria. She is married to Antonio and has three children: Albert, Fred, and Anita.
Anna Maria is a kind-hearted woman who faces numerous challenges. She endures her husband’s infidelity and the pain it causes. Her childhood is marked by the absence of her mother and the emotional distance of her father. After getting married, she realizes her own dependence on others, particularly Zoila, who becomes a mother figure to her. Anna Maria is incapable of even combing her own hair.
Physically, she is described as a beautiful woman with long eyelashes and delicate hands. She has thick, lovely hair, but it becomes damp and heavy due to her illness. Anna Maria comes from a wealthy background, which allows her to be somewhat capricious. She lives on an estate in the countryside.
Antagonist: The antagonist in this story is the complex and often painful nature of love. Anna Maria suffers greatly because of her love for Ricardo. Their youthful romance leads to an unplanned pregnancy, which she hides from her family, especially her father, fearing his reaction. Despite losing the baby, the emotional scars remain.
She also experiences pain in her marriage to Antonio. Initially, she doesn’t love him, which prompts her to leave. However, she eventually realizes her love for him, only to find him cold and unfaithful.
Secondary Characters:
Alicia: Anna Maria’s sister. They are raised together in a Catholic school. Alicia is deeply religious, always praying the rosary, while Anna Maria is prone to mischief. Physically, Alicia is described as beautiful, with blonde, curly hair. This becomes a source of envy for Anna Maria and her cousins. However, as Alicia grows older, she becomes sadder, and her physical appearance changes, becoming paler and less attractive.
Zoila: Anna Maria’s nanny and lifelong companion. She has been a constant presence in Anna Maria’s life, especially after her mother’s death. Zoila takes care of everything for Anna Maria, highlighting her dependence on others. She is described as an elderly woman with gray hair.
Fernando: Anna Maria’s lover and confidant. She shares everything with him. However, she often complains that he never offers advice or takes charge. Fernando is also married to Agnes, who commits suicide by overdosing on Veronal. He recounts the incident to Anna Maria, noting that his wife didn’t seem sad before taking her own life.