The House of the Spirits: Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis

Clara’s notebook and the early admission that it will later be used to “reclaim the past” and “overcome terrors” introduces the importance of recording events and preserving the past. The narrator implies that the notebook will serve a healing purpose, and that it will be used in some way to cope with trauma. From Nívea’s political aspirations and her passion for securing voting rights for women, the reader can infer that the book takes place during a time when women had considerably fewer rights than they do in the present day.

The hot and oppressive atmosphere in the church mirrors that of the sexist society in which the book takes place. From Nívea and her 15 pregnancies,  it’s clear that women are expected to be wives and mothers. Meanwhile, Rosa’s mermaidlike appearance and her mysterious qualities make her appear magical and supernatural. She is more mythical than human, and this sets the stage for the supernatural elements in the book. Similarly, Nívea’s dream suggests that she, in a way, is able to see the future.

The fact that Esteban is working in the northern mines suggests that he is, at best, part of the middle or working class. If Esteban came from money, he likely wouldn’t be laboring. Severo’s desire for Rosa to learn useful domestic skills reflects the expectations of their patriarchal society, in which women like Rosa are expected to stay home and tend to domestic matters. Rosa’s description as a “heavenly being” and Nívea’s belief that Rosa’s time is short is a bit of foreshadowing that suggests Rosa will die young. Nívea’s reluctance to remove her corset again reflects society’s expectations. She doesn’t want to wear the corset but is compelled to, which suggests that even strong women are oppressed by the patriarchy. Clara’s outburst suggests that she is just as strong and willing to question authority as her mother. 

Clara’s mysterious “mental powers” seem to distress her family; however, Clara’s powers don’t seem to bother her at all. After all, she forgets about Father Restrepo’s words after she writes about him. Presumably, Clara’s family worries that she might be possessed (what else explains her powers?), and the priest’s words are the “diagnosis” that confirms this. The fact that Clara’s family keeps her powers hidden suggests they are ashamed and don’t want her secret to get out. 

It is love, not medicine, that treats Clara’s asthma, which underscores the power of love to heal and soothe. Severo’s aspirations to be a Liberal politician suggest that he advocates for the equality and freedom of all people. This passage also suggests that Severo’s fear of Clara’s powers are rooted in the fears of others, not necessarily in his own. If the public finds out his daughter talks to ghosts and levitates, his political career will be over. 

Marcos’s odd movements are likely yoga or Tai chi, which must certainly seem strange to the del Valles, who are South American. His bizarre equipment and exotic animals further add to the novel’s sense of the supernatural, and the fact that Nívea has already buried him once before makes Marcos appear magical or otherworldly. This passage implies that Marcos was once presumed dead and somehow defied it—but Nívea mourned him, nonetheless, which speaks to their closeness as family. 

The very first airplane was flown by Wilbur and Orville Wright in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903, so the novel must take place sometime after this date. Marxism, in this case, is a political ideology that advocates social equality and justice through revolution and class warfare, and since the Marxist candidate gathers such a large crowd, it can be inferred that he has the support of many people. Meanwhile, Clara looks to the sky because her power, or intuition, tells her that Marcos isn’t dead.   

Marcos’s belief that everyone has powers like Clara’s can be viewed as a reference to “powers” such as intuition or empathy, with which women are often associated. The “evil eye” is a curse often seen in Mediterranean culture that is usually cast upon someone without their knowledge, and it is further evidence of the supernatural. Clara kills the evil eye, which suggests she also has the power to reverse curses, and this again speaks to her strength and mysterious abilities.

For Clara, who deeply loves her uncle, Barrabás is a consolation—like a living piece of Marcos. Clara’s love for the dog is symbolic of her love for Marcos, and Barrabás helps her to cope with the trauma of such a loss. Marcos’s travel journals and numerous books also reflect the importance of writing and recording the past: Marcos has experienced amazing things in his travels, and now his family can experience them too.

Barrabás’s “mythological qualities” adds to the book’s sense of the supernatural. His size and mysteriousness make him appear magical, and he, like Marcos, defies death when Nana tries to kill him. Severo seems to believe in patriarchal ideas—in that he believes women should learn useful domestic skills—but when it comes to Barrabás, Clara has the final word.

This is the first time Esteban Trueba is identified as the narrator, which means that he is the one to use Clara’s notebooks to reclaim the past and heal. The letters that Esteban saves are another way of preserving the past. The letters tell a story, and the few letters Rosa sends compared to Esteban’s imply that Rosa doesn’t love Esteban quite as much as he loves her. Again, the fact that Esteban must work in the mines to get enough money to marry Rosa suggests he is of a lower class.

Esteban’s love for Rosa is clear. He obsessively waits outside her house and sends her poems—another form of writing and reclaiming the past that is seen throughout the novel. Here, Esteban appears intimidated, self-conscious, and afraid, which further reflects just how in love with Rosa he is. Again, Esteban’s need for a bank loan to obtain the claim for the mine suggests that he doesn’t have much money of his own, whereas the de Valles seem to be well-off given Severo’s political influence. 

Severo is a member of the Liberal Party, which means he supports and advocates for equal rights and social justice, but his representation of the southern province further oppresses the impoverished voters who live there. The voters are not represented by a peer who truly knows their needs, but by another wealthy politician from the capital. Meanwhile, Clara’s premonition suggests an upcoming tragedy and, worryingly, hearkens to her previous feeling that Rosa’s time is limited.  

Nana’s premonition suggests that she, too, has “powers,” or at least that she has a powerful sense of empathy and strong intuition. Nana knows that Clara predicted someone would die—and given Rosa’s recent fever, she is the most likely candidate. Nana seems to be the only one who goes to Sunday mass, which signals to Severo’s atheism as well as his political beliefs. Religion is often associated with right-wing politics, which Severo seems to oppose as a member of the Liberal Party.

The spiked brandy was clearly meant to kill Severo, and since Severo is running for Congress, this attempt on his life is likely motivated by politics. Dr. Cuevas doesn’t ask Severo and Nívea if they want an autopsy—he simply tells them he must perform one. The fact that Dr. Cuevas feels comfortable acting on his own accord, without consulting others, reflects the ideals of their patriarchal society. As a highly-educated man of influence in the community, Dr. Cuevas is able to do whatever he feels is necessary, regardless of others’ wishes. 

Dr. Cuevas’s assistant is extremely inappropriate. Even in death, he seems to view Rosa as a sexual object, not a human being, which again reflects the sexist society in which the novel takes place. This passage also reflects the deep love others feel for Rosa, as even Dr. Cuevas is overcome with grief. Still, Rosa’s autopsy is the ultimate invasion of her privacy and body—a decision that Dr. Cuevas made on his own. 

Dr. Cuevas’s suggestion to take more time preparing Rosa for her family implies that they don’t give others the same treatment. Likely, servants, peasants, and those of the working class aren’t treated with close attention, which reflects the discrimination of the lower classes. Rosa, on the other hand, is given special treatment because she is wealthy and beautiful. 

The attempt on Severo’s life reflects the corrupt nature of politics. Severo’s comment that politics are “a trade for butchers and bandits” suggests that politics are corrupt in general—even the Liberal Party and the left, which supposedly fights for the people. The mention of the Conservative Party president implies that he is suspected of involvement in Rosa’s murder.  

Severo is very concerned with scandals of any kind, which suggests that he fears the judgement of others and what that might mean for his social status. Scandals—like Rosa’s death or Clara’s supernatural powers—threaten the del Valles’ standing in society, which he goes to great lengths to protect. The oligarchy is the handful of wealthy men who have ultimate political power over the rest of the country, and they often act in their own best interest. As a wealthy man, the oligarchy believes Severo should side with them. Instead, Severo advocates for the lower classes, which threatens the oligarchy’s power over those individuals. 

Esteban’s surprise that Rosa is a mortal being again speaks to her magical qualities and the novel’s sense of the supernatural. This passage also reflects Esteban’s immense love for Rosa, as he must read the letter three times before he finally begins to accept her death. 

Esteban’s interruption suggests that he will love and laugh again, even though he is clearly devasted by Rosa’s death. The fact that only men are allowed to attend funerals  again reflects the oppression of women in a patriarchal society. Nívea deserves to bury and mourn her daughter in the same way Severo and Esteban do, as do Clara and Nana, but their needs are ignored.  

Clara’s apprehension when she reaches the window again speaks to her special powers, as she seems to know that something isn’t right. Witnessing Rosa’s autopsy alone is likely traumatic for Clara—a 10-year-old girl—but she is also forced to witness the sexual assault of her sister’s dead body. The assistant’s despicable behavior and his complete disrespect for Rosa’s body and the person she was is further evidence of their sexist society. Dr. Cuevas’s assistant again sees Rosa as nothing but a sexual object, and he takes from her what he wants.