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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 3 page essay that analyzes Allende's poignant short story of self-centered evil and retribution, "If You Touched My Heart." The writer argues that this is a fable that offers a complex morality tale, which works on many levels of understanding. It concerns Amadeo Peralta, an amoral man who treats a young girl, Hortensia, in an abominable fashion that ignores her humanity. An examination of the symbolism, imagery and themes of this complex narrative demonstrates how Allende conceives of evil as something apart from consciousness. It does not matter that Hortensia does not conceive of her fate as evil. It nevertheless comes back in a full karmic circle to ensnare Peralta in precisely the same circumstances that Hortensia suffered. No additional sources cited.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khiytmh.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
works on many levels of understanding. It concerns Amadeo Peralta, an amoral man who treats a young girl, Hortensia, in an abominable fashion that ignores her humanity. An examination of
the symbolism, imagery and themes of this complex narrative demonstrates how Allende conceives of evil as something apart from consciousness. It does not matter that Hortensia does not conceive of
her fate as evil. It nevertheless comes back in a full karmic circle to ensnare Peralta in precisely the same circumstances that Hortensia suffered. The story begins with Peralta
being called upon his father to associate himself with people who can clear the family name of the "stains of mud and blood" that have resulted from the way that
Peralta the elder has done business (81). Amadeo Peralta does not like the idea of marriage, but does as his father commands and courts the homely daughter of an
old family. However, before he actually weds, Peralta hears Hortensia, a fifteen-year-old girl, playing music in the yard of a humble house. Immediately, Peralta gives in to his urges, seduces
the girl and then abandons her. From the beginning of the story, Allende uses imagery to present Hortensia as more akin to an exotic animal than a fully functioning
human being. Her song on the "blond wood psaltery" produced a "crystalline sound like water purling between stones" (82). As this suggests, Hortensia is symbolic of the natural world, which
was beautiful prior to meeting Peralta. Allende comments that Peralta need not have used his seduction tricks on the girl because she was "simple and even though she may been
enchanted by the tone of his voice she did not understand the meaning of the words" (83). Hortensia travels 140 kilometers and shows up on Peraltas doorstep. Once more,
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