House Of Spirits Essay, Research Paper

THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF ESEBAN

TRUEBA Esteban Trueba’s triumphs and defeats Isabel

Allende documents The House of the Spirits. After leaving,

his mother and sister, and starting a new and independent

life, Esteban changes much. For the first time he is successful

and wealthy. He feels as if he has no problems, mainly

because he does not have a family to weigh him down.

Trueba’s move to Three Marias seems to appease his hunger

temporarily, before his monstrous, demanding, and ever

growing needs overwhelms him. The type of lifestyle

achieved by Esteban Trueba in Three Marias far surpassed

that of living with his mother and sister, however only brief

moments of satisfaction are incurred. These, previously

mentioned, moments created a hunger for perfection and

greed that would continue perpetuate at any cost. Receiving

a letter from Ferula brings back memories for Esteban of his

sad life with her and his mother, which forces him to endure

his memories of poverty and pain. He even remembers the

smell of medicince, which had encompassed their home.

These memories force Esteban to reflect on the reasons why

he left them. He reminisces on that portion of his life,

occupied by the deterioration of his family. Ferula endured

many burdens as well, due to their father’s drinking, then his

death, their mother’s age, her chronic sicknesses, and

Esteban’s childhood care. A direct result of these chaotic

years is the siblings inability to relate. When Esteban bought

a luxury, an elaborate coffee with his money she scolded him

for "spending Mama’s medicine money on [his] private little

whims" (Allende 43). Eventually Esteban tires of this

oppressive way of life and goes to search for a "destiny that

was bright, free, and full of promise" (Allende 44). At Tres

Marias he hopes to find his Eden. All this cargo from his past

is called to his attention by the letter he receives from Ferula.

The letter does result in inflicting guilt on Esteban, for his lack

of morals and complete selfishness. Ferula tells Esteban, in

the letter, that their mother wants to see her son again before

she dies. "Esteban had never really loved his mother or felt at

ease in her presence," but he knew that resisting this visit to

pay his last respects would be unethical (Allende 71).

Visiting "this woman who was always present in his

nightmares," was unavoidable: death is final and feelings are

not(Allende 72). Ferula never enjoys the pleasure in her life,

part of Esteban’s dilemma before moving to Three Marias.

Yet, Esteban hopes to avoid his kin for the rest of their lives.

Esteban should not dwell on his family, especially when

everything in his life has gone considerably better without

them. As any family member will attest, there are always

strong family ties regardless of ones denial. The temporary

feelings of a son will eventually leave and regret will occur,

for not visiting, writing or caring while a loved one was still

available. For Esteban, his move to Three Marias simplified

his life, he had no family problems, no financial problems,

and he believed that he was content often. He was

practically a king, do what he pleases on his land with many

uneducated servants, meaning free labor. In Three Marias

people wait on him, he has wealth and unbridled freedom.

None of these luxuries came into Esteban’s dreams until he

moved there. He likes Transito Soto and lends her money to

start a new life for herself, away from the brothels. This was

one of the few times throughout the book in which Esteban is

philanthropic. After so many grinding and sorrowful years,

the opportunity Esteban has to meet new people and thrive

in a new town temporarily appeased him. Esteban comes to

believe that the first time he sat down in the first class car of

the train that being first was his pursuit of happiness and

independence. Presumably for Esteban Trueba, marriage,

children, and control, all found at Three Marias, would

ensure his happiness. Despite the prosperity which Esteban

achieved at Three Marias, he would still remain an abrasive

man who could not accept failure or weakness. Prosperity,

women, children, and wealth would never compensate for

his eternal bitterness which could be attributed to his

childhood and early adult years.