Wednesday, May 25, 2011
14: The Hour of Truth
When you respond to this chapter, DO NOT simply repeat the thoughts of others. Add something new to a previous comment. Comment or critique on a previous posting. BUT YOUR ULTIMATE goal is to add something new to the discussion. Also...don't forget to use as many direct quotes as possible!!!!
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So in this chapter I love how everyone is tied together. Alot of the characters are shown here and why they were brought into the story in the first place, such as Transito Soto. On p.(421), it says, "I suppose she used her knowledge of the most secret side of the men in power to return the fifty pesos I once lent her. Two days later she called me on the phone. "It's Transito Soto, patron. I did what you asked me to." She had saved Alba's life and also restored Esteban's happiness. At first she seems like a random prostitute that just happens to interest Esteban, but what woman didn't interest him in his early life? And then, it turns out that she plays a very crucial role in the Truebas's lives. It was very interesting, although it did foreshadow this event in earlier chapters.
~Brittany Rowe
So trace this back to the beginning. Why did Esteban visit Transito (besides the obvious)? What did she provide for him that he wanted so desperately? What do we learn about Esteban from these visits. And how many times have we seen the consequences of a decision Esteban made come back to haunt him? In this case, the exact opposite happens...why?
This chapter took a much different route then I expected. When Alba is physically, sexually, and emotionally harmed by Esteban Garcia, I thought how rude of Mr. Garcia to take his anger out on Alba. I thought back to when Garcia wanted to strangle Alba in the gazebo years earlier, he saw how well she was treated, how educated she was,and how well her grandfather took care of her. I believe he was jealous because he was the son too and he didn't get recognized as the patrons son.
I really enjoyed how the chapter ended with Esteban Trueba returning to Tranito Soto for help, I found it touching how he helped her and now he is asking for a favor back. I enjoyed listening to Esteban plead for her help and talk about how Alba was the world to him. While reading the chapter I was nervous to hear what Tranito would say to Esteban, I was afraid she would not help him. He's speech to Tranito really touched me and made me feel bad for Esteban. But when Transito Soto contacted Esteban two days later and said "I did what you asked me to" (421) I was so happy. I realized behind this strange woman that I was never sure about, was a lady who kept her word just like how she promised to pay Esteban his money back and she did. This had to have been my favorite chapter!
-Janel
I strongly admire Alba's determination and will power throughout this chapter. I suspected right away that whenever Alba called out to her grandmother for help or aid and had received no answer that Clara wished for her granddaughter to live which is why she would not guide her towards death. When Alba felt close to death "her grandmother Clara, whom [Alba] had invoked so many times to help her die, appeared with the novel idea that the point was not to die, since death came anyway, but to survive" (414). Her unperturbed will to live is what allowed her to survive until Transito Soto was able to save her.
I like how Transito Soto came back into the novel, which even the most naive reader could have forseen. When Esteban needed someone to count on, she was there. I guess it's like they always say, it's good to have friends in low places. Eventhough she was a prostitute, she was able to go get on the inside to find out the whereabouts of his granddaughter. In the end, Transito turned out to be his only friend. She was finally able to return her dept and play a major role in finding Alba. He states, "...I know you are on good terms with the new government..."(420).
Your Welcome,
Travis
This chapter kept me in suspense to the very end with Transito's call to Esteban to say that his favor was done. At the end of the chapter with Esteban's meeting with Transito to repay the favor she owed him from over 50 years ago you can inference how Esteban became emotional during his story to Transito that became a painfully long rambling that had become Esteban's sobs ''I told her Alba is my only granddaughter...before they send her to me in the mail all cut up in little pieces, I sobbed''(418-421). It was easy enough to see that so long as Transito owed Esteban, she would appear again in his life, but I doubt that anyone would have guessed it would be to save the life of his granddaughter, the daughter of the man he had mutilated the hand of, and of whom had vowed to kill one day only to later forgive him and reconcile. When one looks back on the events of the story, it's quite something to see how far Esteban's generosity of giving 50 pesos to the prostitute of whom he had grown accustomed to for her wild dreams of starting her own brothel and becoming rich had gotten him.
Yes, this relationship is quite interesting. I guess one time Esteban did something right was giving a prostitute with dreams some money.
Travis... I'm not following comment referring to a naive reader. Are you saying that it's obvious that Transito will pop up later in the novel and save the day for Esteban? Because really, I didn't feel like it was that obvious considering the magnitude of the situation Alba finds herself in. But what I do like is that you have two figures from Esteban's past (Transito and Esteban) that Esteban had a direct hand in making. After all, he sired Esteban G's father, and he give Transito the money she needed. Two by-products of Esteban. And then, in the end, one by-produce saves Alba from the other. So what does this say about Esteban and the role he plays in this novel?
And technically shouldn't it be me replying "You're welcome" for reading your responses?
Mrs. Matysak I agree that it wasn't obvious that Transito would end up saving Alba. I wouldn't of thought she would be the type of person to have those connections with people in government. Also, answering your question about Esteban I feel that he is the reason for most of the problems that arise in the novel. His temper and non-compassionate personality cause many people to resent him and want to seek revenge. Without him Esteban Garcia would have never been born, and that would have saved Alba a lot of trauma.
Taylor Quella
"I suppose you've come because you want me to repay the favor that I have owed you for half a century, right?" (418), Transito Soto says to Esteban when he asks for help in the search of his grandaughter. I thought that it was strange that all the way in the beginning of the book, when Esteban gives her money and she swears to repay him in a favor, that the favor would be the life or death of his grandaughter. Meaning if she decided to not keep her word, then Alba would never have been found and probably would have ended up dead. I also hope that there is a second book were Esteban Garcia gets what he deserves.
~SHELBY~
Another reason for me to very much dislike Esteban Trueba. Because of mistakes he made long ago, Alba is being punished. I must say that is does seem as if for every bad thing that Esteban did he is being re-payed. But I also see in this chapter that Alba is a very strong character. She is no longer that girl with Miguel in the first protests. She has come to the point where she is able to withstand not only physical abuse but also emotional, and I admire her very much for it.
Mellisa Crisan
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