Was it all a dream?
In “Aura,” Carlos Fuentes is able to create a dreamlike and
magical setting through his use of point of view and symbolism. The book is
written in a second-person perspective and its effect on the reader is
important in that it makes the reader feel part of the environment in which the
novel is set. The reader almost feels as if they are in a dream, feeling out of
control and forced to watch every action unfold. In a dream, the dreamer is
usually passive and performs actions involuntarily and denies their own reason
and morality, such as Felipe watching Aura cut up a human child, as described
later in the book. In a dream, the dreamer wonders how they got to a certain
place and why they are there, just like Felipe is lost in Consuela’s house. Fuentes
is also able to create a tone of mystery and magic through his use of
symbolism. The house is always dark and obscure, leaving the reader, as well as
the narrator, in a state of confusion and wonder. Also, Felipe mentions seeing
many black cats, a classic symbol of mystery. In addition, Felipe repeatedly mentions Aura’s green eyes, which sparkle, but
at the same time, often don’t show any sense of life inside. Fuentes’ use of a dreamlike and magical
setting causes the reader to question if the actions that took place in the
story are indeed real, or if it’s all just in Felipe’s head, just like a dream.
No comments:
Post a Comment