As is noted in the last post, perhaps Trueba suggests that he and Alba write down their lives to remind Alba of her origins and family background. The idea that who-you-are-born-to-defines-who-you-are seems to be rather imbedded in Trueba’s beliefs, even if by the end of the novel he may feel pity towards those unfairly treated due to their status.
Esteban García’s supposed need to take revenge on Trueba’s daughter likewise portrays an importance of family blood. Raping Alba to avenge his grandmother from Alba's grandfather, Trueba, is an obvious conviction that hurting her equals hurting him. Aside from the two Truebas being family members, the two are nothing alike. How can García be satisfied by taking his revenge out on another person than the one he considers his enemy? Does autonomy not play a role in this endeavor?
Connecting these examples one may wonder whether Isabel Allende believes that a person is defined by his/her family blood ties.
Or
Is she addressing just the opposite?
The overwhelming difference between the Trueba children, such as Jaime’s care for others and Nicholas’ practical indifference, may allow the reader to judge one’s environment as the defining factor of who a person is, as is noted by the boys’ upbringing at an English (I think) boarding school.
Then again, maybe that is just a cover-up for what Allende really believes to be true, that family does trump all other factors. Nicholas seems to inherit Uncle Marcos's desire to travel and invent. Then again, though he pursues spiritual enlightenment, it seems that he did not inherit such qualities from his mother. Likewise, the imaginary creatures that Rosa imprinted in her quilts and the ones that appeared on Alba’s wall may suggest that the two are linked. Through this same observation one may argue that it is the spiritual environment that revolves around the two that influence the girls’ creations.
Aha! Then it is environment that shapes a person. Right? If both Rosa and Alba, and even Blanca’s pottery creatures, are linked in the spiritual world, it is that realm that tells them who they are.
Or maybe not.
Is it both? Do both family relations and environment make a person who they are?
The two are definitely influencing factors but in the end they can never define who a person is.
May it be as it may be.
This is a very dizzying array of intelligent thoughts, but i think i agree with them for the most part. I think a person's family and upbringing play a part in how a person turns out, but ultimately it is the choices that the person makes that define them. A person with a good family and enviroment can make bad choices, jsut like a less fortunate person can make good choices.
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