Independence and Survival

Throughout the story, Allende explores the hardships about going through life alone and trying to survive without any support systems. For example, she examines how life lead alone causes one to sacrifice one’s moral character in order to ensure one’s survival. Allende uses symbolism and character development in order to explore this theme.

Belisa Crepusculario ’s decision making in this story demonstrates her will to survive at the expense of other character traits. For example, when Belisa Crepusculario is travelling to the coast, and she sees other people dying of thirst and starvation, she does not stop to help them, because she has “no strength to waste in acts of compassion” (4). Not only does this demonstrate how dire her situation is, but it also emphasizes that Belisa Crepusculario’s survival instinct supersedes her desire to help others. This could be due to...