ure well being by performing her abortion. “ . . .as soon as the old man entered the room, the plant lowered its leaves and began to exude a whitish fluid, like tears of milk, from its stem.” (268, Ch 8)An element of personification is found in these lines, which describes that plant’s weep for peace. It is given human characteristics by sobbing and sulking at the sight of Esteban’s temper. IT also provides a symbolic link to the nature motif found within the women, who also are tortured by his temper. “Alba gave up the bay rum . . . which allowed the green to reappear in its full leafiness.” (269, Ch 8)Leafiness is used as an adjective for Alba’s hair in conjunction with the color green to symbolize her aspects of nature. She is pure at heart and possesses some of the same organic powers of clairvoyance as her grandmother. The leafiness presents green as a symbol of the growth of vegetation and her natural propensity to care for others and become everything opposite of what her grandfather’s temper represents. “Before I had always felt like a giant next to her, but when I lay down next to her on the bed I saw that we were almost the same size.” (293, Ch 10)The imagery presented in comparing physical size of Clara and her husband transcends to another layer. This quote is found far enough down the time line for the book to begin finding legit comparisons between the independence and self sufficiency of her husband’s male character and her own feminist one. Allende makes this comparison through the eyes of Esteban so as to show his realization of Clara’s powerful feminine character. Either it has recently grown to a significant level, has accumulated unnoticeably over the years, or was always in existence. It is here represented physically with size.“Miguel explained that the election was a joke and that whoever won, it would make no difference because you wou...
