Eva Luna
Encyclopedia
Eva Luna is a novel written by Chile
an novelist Isabel Allende
in 1985 and translated from Spanish to English by Margaret Sayers Peden.
Eva Luna takes us into the life of the eponymous protagonist, an orphan who grows up in an unidentified country in South America
. While the country's political history, traced through several decades of the mid-20th century, bears many similarities to Chile (the author's original nationality), the geography and social context of the story depict a society more similar to Venezuela
(where she was exiled for over a decade).
The novel takes us through Eva Luna's journey though life so far and her ability to tell stories, interweaving Eva's personal story with the broader geopolitical turmoil of Latin America
during the 1950s - 1980s.
After the Professor dies, Eva moves on and eventually stumbles upon Huberto Naranjo who places her in the care of La Señora, the owner of a brothel.
After living in harmony for a few years, a new police chief moves in and immediately storms the brothel. Eva is forced to flee and eventually stumbles upon Riad Halabi, a man with a cleft palate. Eva moves to Agua Santa with Halabi and settles into her new life, living with Riad and his wife, Zulema. After a few years, Riad's cousin Kamal moves in to live with them. Zulema is instantly infatuated with Kamal and when Riad goes on a trip, she seduces him, after which Kamal immediately leaves. After Kamal leaves, Zulema loses interest in life and eventually commits suicide by shooting herself in the mouth. After Eva is suspected of murdering Zulema, Riad bribes the police to release Eva. Eva and Riad realize that Eva must leave to escape the rumors, but before she leaves they share one night of passion.
When Eva returns to the city, she reunites with the beautiful and engaging transsexual Melisio, now known as "Mimi". Eva then reunites with Huberto Naranjo for infrequent sexual encounters which Eva treasures as the only time she can see her loved one. This is because Huberto leads a guerrilla unit fighting a revolution. As time goes on, Eva realizes that Huberto, although a dear friend, is not the man for her.
Through the novel a parallel narative is told—that of Rolf Carle traced from childhood to adulthood. The novel tells us at the beginning that he is the man that Eva will fall in love with and marry. Rolf grows up in Eastern Europe with a sadistic father who returns from the war and regularly torments and humiliates his mother. After his father is killed by some local boys Rolf's mother resolves to send him to South America to be raised by his Aunt and Uncle. As Rolf grows up he becomes interested in journalism and becomes a leading journalist shooting footage from the front line. Rolf films the guerillas where he meets Huberto, and later Eva. As the two slowly fall in love, they help the guerillas in releasing nine prisoners from a jail as an act of rebellion. When the rescue is complete, the two retreat to his cousins' home. There they profess their love for each other, consummate their relationship, and agree to marry.
, with regard to the protagonist and heroine, Eva. Her ability to tell stories and concoct tales is one of her gifts and it is through this ability that Eva is able to cope with the oppressive atmosphere in Latin America, directly preceding World War II. Eva's stories intertwine Magical realism, that is the amalgamation of supernatural elements and realistic themes. Through this means, Eva is able to 'escape' her reality and construct her own view of society that she is better able to deal with. Described as a modern Scheherazade
, Eva's ability to induce others with her stories is her gift to the world, helping her deal with the difficulties that many women, like herself, faced in a tyrannical and explosive political environment.
Allende critiques on the gender imbalance that was and still is present in most Latin American countries. Generally, women were regarded as objects, entities that were subjugated in a male hegemony. Through the protagonist Eva, Allende has found a character that reflects on all the characteristics that all women trying to survive in the harsh conditions of Latin America, should embody. Eva's name is itself symbolic. Luna is Spanish for "moon" - a symbol of the matriarchal power that women possess. In many ways the character Eva reflects Allende herself and the struggle that she went through after her first cousin once-removed Salvador Allende
was overthrown as Chilean President on September 11, 1973.
Recently this book has been turned into a screenplay and is a recent project of Teatown Communications Group
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an novelist Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende Llona is a Chilean writer with American citizenship. Allende, whose works sometimes contain aspects of the "magic realist" tradition, is famous for novels such as The House of the Spirits and City of the Beasts , which have been commercially successful...
in 1985 and translated from Spanish to English by Margaret Sayers Peden.
Eva Luna takes us into the life of the eponymous protagonist, an orphan who grows up in an unidentified country in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. While the country's political history, traced through several decades of the mid-20th century, bears many similarities to Chile (the author's original nationality), the geography and social context of the story depict a society more similar to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
(where she was exiled for over a decade).
The novel takes us through Eva Luna's journey though life so far and her ability to tell stories, interweaving Eva's personal story with the broader geopolitical turmoil of Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
during the 1950s - 1980s.
Plot summary
The story is told from Eva's first person point of view, with some sections narrated from Rolf Carle's point of view. The story opens as Eva describes her mother's journey and how her mother ended up working for a Professor. One day, the Indian gardener is bitten by a snakebite and whilst on his deathbed, Eva's mother, Consuelo makes love to him, thus conceiving Eva. Miraculously, Eva's father recovers. Eva's mother then dies after choking on a chicken bone and leaves Eva to fend for herself.After the Professor dies, Eva moves on and eventually stumbles upon Huberto Naranjo who places her in the care of La Señora, the owner of a brothel.
After living in harmony for a few years, a new police chief moves in and immediately storms the brothel. Eva is forced to flee and eventually stumbles upon Riad Halabi, a man with a cleft palate. Eva moves to Agua Santa with Halabi and settles into her new life, living with Riad and his wife, Zulema. After a few years, Riad's cousin Kamal moves in to live with them. Zulema is instantly infatuated with Kamal and when Riad goes on a trip, she seduces him, after which Kamal immediately leaves. After Kamal leaves, Zulema loses interest in life and eventually commits suicide by shooting herself in the mouth. After Eva is suspected of murdering Zulema, Riad bribes the police to release Eva. Eva and Riad realize that Eva must leave to escape the rumors, but before she leaves they share one night of passion.
When Eva returns to the city, she reunites with the beautiful and engaging transsexual Melisio, now known as "Mimi". Eva then reunites with Huberto Naranjo for infrequent sexual encounters which Eva treasures as the only time she can see her loved one. This is because Huberto leads a guerrilla unit fighting a revolution. As time goes on, Eva realizes that Huberto, although a dear friend, is not the man for her.
Through the novel a parallel narative is told—that of Rolf Carle traced from childhood to adulthood. The novel tells us at the beginning that he is the man that Eva will fall in love with and marry. Rolf grows up in Eastern Europe with a sadistic father who returns from the war and regularly torments and humiliates his mother. After his father is killed by some local boys Rolf's mother resolves to send him to South America to be raised by his Aunt and Uncle. As Rolf grows up he becomes interested in journalism and becomes a leading journalist shooting footage from the front line. Rolf films the guerillas where he meets Huberto, and later Eva. As the two slowly fall in love, they help the guerillas in releasing nine prisoners from a jail as an act of rebellion. When the rescue is complete, the two retreat to his cousins' home. There they profess their love for each other, consummate their relationship, and agree to marry.
Characters
- Eva Luna
- Rolf Carlé
- Riad Halabi - Like a father to Eva, Takes her off the street
- Huberto Naranjo
- Consuelo - Eva's mother
- Mimi/Melesio
- Zulema - Wife of Riad, cheats on her husband with Kamal, Kills herself
- Kamal - Cousin of Riad, sleeps with Zulema then leaves
- Colonel Rodriguez
- La Señora - takes care of Eva after Huberto asks her to
- Lukas Carlé - Rolf's Father
- Elvira
- Madrina
Themes & Issues
Several different ideas are raised by Allende in this novel, often called a picaresque novelPicaresque novel
The picaresque novel is a popular sub-genre of prose fiction which is usually satirical and depicts, in realistic and often humorous detail, the adventures of a roguish hero of low social class who lives by his wits in a corrupt society...
, with regard to the protagonist and heroine, Eva. Her ability to tell stories and concoct tales is one of her gifts and it is through this ability that Eva is able to cope with the oppressive atmosphere in Latin America, directly preceding World War II. Eva's stories intertwine Magical realism, that is the amalgamation of supernatural elements and realistic themes. Through this means, Eva is able to 'escape' her reality and construct her own view of society that she is better able to deal with. Described as a modern Scheherazade
Scheherazade
Scheherazade , sometimes Scheherazadea, Persian transliteration Shahrazad or Shahrzād is a legendary Persian queen and the storyteller of One Thousand and One Nights.-Narration :...
, Eva's ability to induce others with her stories is her gift to the world, helping her deal with the difficulties that many women, like herself, faced in a tyrannical and explosive political environment.
Allende critiques on the gender imbalance that was and still is present in most Latin American countries. Generally, women were regarded as objects, entities that were subjugated in a male hegemony. Through the protagonist Eva, Allende has found a character that reflects on all the characteristics that all women trying to survive in the harsh conditions of Latin America, should embody. Eva's name is itself symbolic. Luna is Spanish for "moon" - a symbol of the matriarchal power that women possess. In many ways the character Eva reflects Allende herself and the struggle that she went through after her first cousin once-removed Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende Gossens was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America....
was overthrown as Chilean President on September 11, 1973.
Recently this book has been turned into a screenplay and is a recent project of Teatown Communications Group