Isabel Allende's The House of the Spirits

In many novels, relationships shape a character. Throughout Isabel

Allende's The House of the Spirits dissimilar individuals constantly
come together to form relationships that change or develop their
disposition. While Allende uses relationships to build upon a character,
she also depicts a character's living environment in order to confirm
their true soul and lifestyle. Due to the observation of both relationships
and environments, a character's true qualities are expressed to a
reader. The relationship between two individuals, Ferula and Clara,
proves itself a positive product of the union of differing people. Through
analysis of Ferula's home and close observation of her bond with Clara,
Allende reveals Ferula's true character as she illustrates Ferula's
dramatic change from a desolate soul to the selfless and loving
character that molds Clara into the confident woman she aspires to.

Ferula's life story, the desolation of her soul, and the connection she
eventually has with Clara all became evident in the mere description of
her living environment. At one point in the novel, Clara wrote of her
experience in the vicinity of Ferula?s home. Clara explained that

?The tenement was a long passageway of ruined houses, all exactly

the same; small impoverished dwellings built of cement, each with a
single door and two windows. They were painted in drab colors and
their peeling walls were linked across the narrow passageway by wires
hung from side to side. [She] walked deeper into the neighborhood,
avoiding puddles of dirty water that overflowed from the gutters and
dodging piles of garbage in which cats were digging like silent
shadows. In the center of the little ally there was a single fountain,
which was the only source of water?(149-50).

Through such a description, the complete story of Ferula?s life became

apparent. Ferula grew up always caring for others before herself. She
assumed the role of her brother?s (Esteban) mother due to the fact that
her mother fell ill. She ?slept with him, bathed him, took him for strolls,
and did other people?s sewing from dawn till dusk to pay for his
schooling?(42). Ferula felt an obligation to raise her younger brother,
and in doing so, sacrificed her life for his benefit. Instead of giving to
herself, Ferula felt compelled to give of herself in hopes to provide
Esteban with everything she could.

After Esteban

reached manhood, Ferula?s life became geared to helping another

member of her family, her mother. She felt constrained to giving up her
own happiness and her own adult life in order to ?accept the role of her
mother?s nurse?(42). By the time Ferula could realize what happened,
her life became ?painted in drab colors?. Just as the houses in
Ferula?s neighborhood became ?drab?, everyday of Ferula?s life
became a monotonous routine. A routine where Ferula ?was ready at
any moment to run in and administer her mother?s potions, hold her
bedpan, or straighten her pillows?(42).

Due to her constant compulsions to aid her family, Ferula lost many
great parts of her life. She turned down two suitors, ?two windows?
which would have allowed her to escape from her desolation. The
feeling that she needed to remain by her mother?s side became
greater than that of her own desires though. In doing such a thing,
Ferula gave up any chance of true love through marriage. Her life had
become a series of ?peeling walls?, a series of losses and lost
chances. Ferula regularly performed tasks such as ?cleaning her
mother?s ulcerated legs, washing her and sinking deeply into her
stench and wretchedness?(42). She took part in these gruesome tasks
believing that this suffering would get her to heaven. But by giving up
her personal life to assist her brother and mother, Ferula?s soul had
truly become desolate. As time progressed, Ferula?s life moved from a
series of ?peeling walls? to ?a long
passageway of ruined houses?. Day after day of caring for others
moved her farther away from any hope of a happy future or a chance to
find love. Her soul began to reach a ?ruined? point, a point where her
heart had been transformed into a ?tormented soul?(42). However,
Ferula never revealed this torment to others, never complaining
throughout her uncountable philanthropic actions. Through the
desolation, Ferula had remained ?built of cement?. In fact, ?she
seemed so perfect that the word had spread that she was a saint?(42).
With her feelings of obligation ?linking [the walls] from side to side?,
Ferula?s life had become a web of the needs of others. Her existence
consisted of personal sacrifice, not exactly from the goodness of her
heart, but rather by her thinking it necessary to suffering injustice.

When Ferula met Clara, her life began a transformation. The

relationship between both characters became one of true love.
Strangely, through this relationship, Allende brought together two
completely opposite characters. Unlike Clara, Ferula devoted herself to
helping others as to live by religious morals. Every week Ferula went to
the deprived area of the city and ?says the rosary for the poor, the
atheists, the prostitutes, and the orphans, all who throw garbage at her,
dump chamber pots onto her, and spat on her as she shouted an
unbroken litany of Our Fathers and Hail Marys?(87). Such a devotion to
the Lord established Ferula?s character, for despite the constant
personal humiliation, she continued to visit the ?unholy? areas of the
city in hopes to save others and make herself higher with God. While
Ferula traveled through the ?puddles? of unsaved people and ?dirty
water? of the uncivilized, Clara showed her character by ?avoiding
puddles of dirty water that overflowed from the gutters and dodging
piles of garbage?. As Ferula went to serve, Clara merely ?surrounded
herself with servants that take care of her?(121). She also showed little
belief in the religious aspect God, for she constantly consulted spirits
(defying God) to learn about the past and observe the actions of the
future. Although both Ferula and Clara remained completely different
people, they achieved a sense of balance within their relationship and
Clara became nurtured by this bond.

The relationship Clara develops with Ferula turned into a loving

friendship, a type of love that Ferula had never experienced. Although
Ferula?s life showed little hope for happiness, ?in the center of the little
ally there was a single fountain?. This fountain was Clara. In the midst
of all her desolation, Ferula found her ?only source of water?. Just as
water brings life to people, Clara brought a new sense of life to Ferula.
Clara revitalized Ferula?s desolate soul, filling the ?thirst? for
happiness. With Clara, Ferula felt no obligation to give of herself, but
instead a desire to. For the first time in her life, Ferula learned the idea
of love and felt a true happiness in devoting her time to Clara?s needs.
Ferula?s affection for Clara becomes a passion, ?a dedication to
waiting on her and caring for her and an unlimited tolerance for her
distractions and eccentricities?(97). Ferula ?took charge of the
housework, the servants, and Blanca?(105). Constantly working for
Clara, Ferula kept no time for herself. She enjoyed her life with Clara
though, and ?for the first time, Ferula was happy?. A transformation
had occurred in Ferula. She moved from a feeling obligated to aid her
family, to a feeling where she felt pleased to give Clara all her personal
time. Ferula?s soul had moved from a desolate state to a state where
her action became selfless due to the feeling of love.

The relationship between Clara and Ferula also greatly affected the life
of Clara. Clara based much of her life on the support and aid she
received from Ferula. Not until after Ferula?s absence did Clara
sincerely realize the great effect Ferula has on her life. Ferula had
devoted her life to assisting Clara and her family, making things easier
for others by making things harder for herself. Ferula developed many
aspects of Clara?s life, especially the control of her family and
regulation of the household. After Ferula?s death Clara notices how
she ?greatly needed [Ferula?s] help to look after the family?(152). Not
only had Ferula been a great aid in ?domestic matters?, but she made
a profound impact on Clara?s character as well. Clara had little worries
while Ferula was near, for she learned to rely on Ferula?s support.
Ferula?s love for Clara had no limit, impacting the growth of Clara?s
confidence. Clara even wrote ?in her notebook that Ferula loved her far
more deeply than she deserved or than she could ever hope to
repay?(109). Such a love developed Clara?s confidence in not only
herself, but in all that she did. Without Ferula near, Clara had to learn to
support herself in all her endeavors. In doing such a thing, Clara?s
confidence grew, as did her character.

By use of the passage and analysis of her relationship with Clara,

Ferula became one of the most dynamic characters within The House
of the Spirits. From ?ruined houses? to a life giving ?fountain? Allende
demonstrated the great transformation of Ferula?s soul from complete
desolation to true love. The bond she shared with Clara proved itself as
one that could not compare to any others within the novel.
Clara ?always was thinking of [Ferula]?(152), demonstrating the great
impression Ferula left with her. No other relationships developed such
a transformation as did this one. Truly, Ferula?s love influenced
Clara?s life and molded her heart with the love and confidence that
forever remained in the Trueba household and its memories.

Works Cited:

Allende, Isabel. The House of the Spirits. Trans. Magda Bogin. New
York: Bantam Books, 1986. Trans. of La casa de los espiritus.
Barcelona: Plaza and James. 1982.