Walimai by Isabel Allande, Essay Example

Freedom is an undeniably important aspect of being human. In the story of Walimai, it was considered as the ultimate element that defines the very essence of being human. Presented as a life that is based on strong culture, the story of Walimai strongly define the ways by which the natives lived their lives along with nature. Considerably, such description provides a distinct indication on how the natives lived, what principles they believed and what traditions they follow especially when it comes to determining what is best for them including in the process of marrying someone. The entrant of the ‘white pale men’ seem to have ruined the perfect picture of what a home means to the natives. They were gradually overthrown and pushed aside from the land of their birth and left for dead in the wild.

Fighting for life is not that easy, especially when one needs to adapt to a new environment, an environment that does not support the life that one used to live with (Eagleton, 20008). Nature was supposed to be an adaptable element, it was supposed to be everywhere. However, because of invasive activities of ‘other’ people, such capacity and function of nature becomes vague enough to consider. Relatively, in the end, losing a home meant losing a life especially for those whose home belonged to something more natural and more comfortable that defines the overall concept of living free.

The hope of finding a home in the company of strangers was almost considered as a drastic move on the part of the natives. They knew where they belong, and they knew such sense of belongingness could never be altered by a new environment (Cain, et al, 2001). The loss of their home specifically endangered their survival, a reason why Walimai and the woman he has met in his journey died, as if cast out from the society because they were not able to fight for the freedom that was right fully theirs when their homes were taken away from them. This in a way is a representation on a particular aspect of the American history and the manner by which industrialization tramples the natural condition of living of the people who once lived peacefully with what the earth provides and enjoy fully benefiting from its fruits and produce (Whitehouse, internet).

References

Allende, Isabel. Walimai.

Cain, William E.; Finke, Laurie A.; Johnson, Barbara E.; McGowan, John; Williams, Jeffrey J. (2001). Vincent B. Leitch, ed. The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. Norton.

Eagleton, Terry (2008). Literary theory: an introduction: anniversary edition (Anniversary, 2nd ed.). Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

Whitehouse, Anne. Storyteller heroine of 1988 Allende novel returns to narrate enchanting tales. http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-03-03/news/1991062085_1_eva-luna-stories-of-eva-margaret-sayers-peden.  Retrieved on February 22, 2-14.