Time, Space, and Family Saga in Isabel Allende’s House of the Spirits
Study of Time and Space in The House of the Spirits
Historical Time
Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits recreates Chilean history and a family’s saga across generations, intertwining time and space. Set in the 20th century, the novel blends historical facts and fiction, spanning from the colonial era through the World Wars to Pinochet’s 1973 dictatorship. It traces Chile’s social and ideological shifts, including technological advancements, evolving customs, socialist ideas, women’s emancipation, and spiritualism, culminating in the socialist triumph and the subsequent coup.
The 1973 coup, a pivotal moment of political polarization and social unrest, overthrew Salvador Allende’s government. The novel charts the journey from a society marked by barbarism and slavery to a modernized one where women play significant roles and liberal, socialist politics emerge.
Romantic Time
Against this historical backdrop, Allende captures the past through the story of the Trueba family. Four generations of women—Nivea, Clara, Blanca, and Alba—take center stage, representing the evolution of women’s roles. Esteban Trueba, the only constant male figure throughout the narrative, provides a counterpoint to their experiences. The relentless passage of time shapes the family’s destiny.
Narrative Time
The narrative unfolds largely linearly, but with occasional temporal leaps forward (prolepsis), a technique also employed by other magical realism authors like Gabriel García Márquez. Phrases like “many years later,” “remember,” and “know” signal these shifts in time, blending past, present, and future tenses. These anticipations build suspense and offer glimpses into the future, enhancing the reader’s engagement.
Space: Real Space and the House
The spatial study distinguishes between real-world Chile and the symbolic space of the house. While Chile isn’t explicitly named, it’s evoked through weather events and socio-political upheavals. The house itself becomes a symbol of the nation.
Esteban Trueba builds the house for Clara, which is later remodeled by Blanca and Alba. This cycle of construction, deconstruction, and reconstruction mirrors the cyclical nature of the novel. The house reflects the characters’ evolving lives and ideals. Esteban’s influence is seen in the front of the house, symbolizing power and wealth, while Clara’s additions at the back represent her growing freedom and autonomy.