Aura by Carlos Fuentes

Aura, by Carlos Fuentes, explores our deep struggles against time. Consuelo associates aging with loss. Limbs that were once graceful and beautiful are overcome by aches and pains. Smooth skin is now worn parchment. Consuelo is no longer the beautiful maiden General Llorente fell for. She is adamant about maintaining her beauty, and turns to darker forces to ensure that she is forever young. What’s interesting is that Consuelo is clearly aware of her actions, while Felipe fails to associate himself with General Llorente until much later in the novel. From the ad’s description, it is clear that Consuelo has gone through this process of luring Felipe back to 815 several times. Felipe, however, only has faint sensations of familiarity—which escalate as the novel progresses, noting that it felt that the ad was written specifically for him, all it failed to do was explicitly name him. Why is Consuelo conscious of the fact that she is going against natural forces while General Llorente must be slowly reintroduced to their unique circumstances? Is this Consuelo’s doing, possibly the results of witchcraft? Or does General Llorente refuse to recognize his role in her actions?