Week 4: The Shrouded Woman

Hi, everyone! Happy weekend! Welcome to my fourth blog. I am so excited since I have already read four books. This week's book is kind of special, I have a lot of thoughts to share with you. 

This week we read a book called "The Shrouded Woman", this book was written by María Luisa Bombal. When I first saw this book's title, I wondered if it might be a horror story, since the name sounded a bit eerie. Of course, this thought was dismissed as soon as I began reading. The novel's theme is quite innovative, centered around a deceased woman named Ana María. Even though she lies on her deathbed, she can still see and hear everything. She witnesses relatives and friends coming to bid her farewell. The appearance of these people opens the door for the woman to revisit memories of the past. I feel like the depiction is reminiscent of an out-of-body experience; although Ana's physical body has died, her soul remains. This makes me doubt whether a person's soul can linger in this world after death, and form a memoir in the mind where all the events of one's life flash before their eyes. Although I know there is no scientific basis for this, I still believe in the possibility of anything. As a deceased person, having this unique role and situation allows for a more unrestrained experience of emotions, thoughts, and excitement. I think this is also why the author chose to write from the perspective of a deceased person.

From the protagonist's recollections, it is evident that she has faced numerous challenges in her romantic pursuits, and overall, she hasn't found a fulfilling love story. She has been on a quest for love, searching for a man who loves her. This may seem somewhat contradictory to the current societal emphasis on gender equality, but I believe that every woman aspires to experience genuine love. Some are fortunate enough to find a lifelong companion, while others are not as lucky. Personally, my perspective on love differs from Ana's. I believe that the foundation of a romantic relationship should be mutual affection between two people. If I don't feel a strong liking for the other person, or if the feeling is not reciprocated, I wouldn't initiate a romantic involvement because I dislike the instability that comes with such relationships.

Furthermore, I perceive the protagonist's love life as rather dramatic. She goes through three distinct love affairs: one that starts with the beauty of first love but ends sadly another involving an unfortunate marriage to her husband, and a final one with a lover that begins but lacks a conclusive ending. It seems like she is never sure about whom she truly likes, leading to complications in each relationship. This is why I disagree with her perspective on love, as I believe that genuine love is pure and doesn't involve a third party. However, dramatic relationships are not uncommon in real life; after all, controlling emotions is a challenging aspect of being human.

I find this novel to be quite imaginative, and I greatly admire the author's ability to depict such a complex life with concise language. Recounting events before one's death and reflecting on past thoughts, the perspectives after death differ significantly from those at the time. I think although life may have its share of challenges, it also brings moments of happiness. After all, isn't the purpose of life to cherish those joyful moments? Therefore, when facing difficulties, there's no need to dwell too much on them. It's most important to live each day happily.

Question: Would you get married to someone you don't love or who doesn't love you?

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