Sunday, September 14, 2008

Sab Paper Ideas

I think there are many possible topics one could write about for our paper on Sab. Character development is one. I think choosing one character like Sab, or Teresa, or even Carlotta would be cool, and picking three scenes throughout the book that really display their change in character. A paper on foil characters could work too. Sab v. Enrique would be a good one, Carlotta v Teresa, or Sab v Teresa would even work. I feel that character development and the different values present in each character are discussed at length and are a topic of major focus throughout the story. Avellaneda takes time to describe both the physical appearance and prominent values in each of her characters, and over the course of the book develops 4 strikingly different individuals, each of whom the reader is supposed to hold in a different light.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

My Delirium on Chimborazo

In this seemingly fictional piece, Bolivar recounts his meeting with the god of Time. Bolivar states, "I have surpassed all men in fortune, because I have risen to be the head of them all." (pg. 136) He continues to say, "I grasp the eternal with my hands; I feel the infernal prisons boiling beneath my footsteps..." (pg. 136) Bolivar is expressing his personal belief that he is as great a man as he can possibly ever be; better than all man kind. However, his encounter with the God of Time, shows him how much smaller and less significant he really is. Time tells him about his mother, Eternity, and his brother, Infinity and their relationships with one another. He asks Simon Bolivar if he truly believes his universe holds any importance whatsoever, and if his scaling of the Andes mountain is at all significant in the scheme of things. He practically shoots down all of Bolivar's life accomplishments and tells him they are meaningless and trivial in Time's eyes. Time concludes by telling Bolivar to always remember what he has been exposed to. He says, "Do not conceal the secrets heaven has revealed to you. Tell men the truth." (pg. 136) Bolivar comes to the realization that the physical/moral Universe is enormous, and that time over powers everything and makes one's life seem so trivial.