La Viuda de Montiel Flashcards

How do people feel about Jose Montiel’s death?

“Vengado” (Avenged)

What is Jose Montiel wearing in his coffin? How is he described?

Estaba muy bien afeitado, vestido de blanco y con botas de charol (patent leather), y tenía tan buen semblante que nunca pareció tan vivo como entonces (more alive than ever).

What does Chepe have in his hands instead of his fusta (whip)? What does this represent?

Un crucifijo. Represents how, in death, they try to replace his violence in life with purity and moral goodness.

What surprised everyone about the death of Chepe Montiel? What had they expected? Why is this upsetting?

Que José Montiel hubiera muerto de muerte natural (death of natural causes). They were hoping he would die after “lo acribillaran (they shot him) por la espalda en una emboscada,” as vengeance for his awful deeds.

How did la Viuda expect Montiel to die?

Viejo en su cama, confesado y sin agonía, como un santo moderno.

How does Chepe really die?

José Montiel murió en su hamaca, un miércoles a las dos de la tarde, a consecuencia de la rabieta que el médico le había prohibido.

What did la Viuda expect would happen with regards to Chepe’s funeral? What does this say about her character?

Que todo el pueblo asistiera al entierro y que la casa fuera pequeña (too small) para recibir tantas flores. She is naive and unaware of the lives of those outside her home.

Who really attended Chepe’s funeral?

Sus copartidarios y las congregaciones religiosas, y no se recibieron más coronas que las de la administración municipal.

Who are la Viuda’s children and what do they do after Chepe dies?

Su hijo —desde su puesto consular de Alemania— y sus dos hijas, desde París, mandaron telegramas de tres páginas.

What was noticeable about the telegrams from Pepe and his sisters?

habían redactado de pie (standing up), con la tinta (ink) multitudinaria de la oficina de correos

What does la Viuda feel for the first time after her husband’s death? What does she say to herself? What does this show about la Viuda?

El sabor de un resentimiento “Me encerraré para siempre / es como si me hubieran metido en el mismo cajón de José Montiel. No quiero saber nada más de este mundo.”

Shows that la Viuda has no sense of self separate from her husband.

How old is la Viuda?

62

What adjectives are used to describe la Vuida?

frágil, lacerada por la superstición

How old was la Vuida when she got married? Who was Chepe to her at that point?

casada a los 20 años por voluntad de sus padres con el único pretendiente que le permitieron ver a menos de 10 metros de distancia.

Why is her husband’s death particularly bad for la Viuda? What was the effect of her young marriage on her?

[Por su matrimonio y infancia] no había estado nunca en contacto directo con la realidad. Era necesario empezar por el principio.

How many days after her husband’s death does la Viuda understand this?

3 days.

What is one of the “innumerables secretos” that José Montiel carried to the grave? What does the Mayor do about it?

La combinación de la caja fuerte (his safe). El alcalde se ocupó del problema: Hizo poner la caja en el patio, apoyada al paredón, y dos agentes de la policía dispararon sus fusiles (shot their rifles) contra la cerradura (lock).

What does la Viuda think about the Mayor’s agents shooting at the safe? What does this reveal?

Cinco años rogando a Dios que se acaben los tiros, y ahora tengo que agradecer que disparen dentro de mi casa.

That she had prayed for the violence to stop, but did not really do anything.

How did the mayor have to open the safe, in the end? What does this do to la Vuida?

Habían tenido que dinamitar la caja fuerte. It wakes her up.

What month is it?

October

What does la Viuda do after accepting the fact her husband is dead?

La viuda de Montiel salió del dormitorio para ocuparse de la casa (take care of the house). La despojó de todo ornamento, hizo forrar los muebles en colores luctuosos (of mourning), y puso lazos fúnebres (funeral ribbons) en los retratos del muerto que colgaban de las paredes.

How long is it after the funeral when la Viuda starts biting her nails?

2 meses.

What thing that Carmichael does upsets la Viuda? What does this reveal?

Entrar a la casa con el paraguas abierto. La viuda is trained to care more about manners (modales) than about moral character, a result of her life around rich but evil people.

What does Carmichael do with respect to his shoes?

[Hace] pequeñas aberturas (openings) hechas a navaja (knife) en los zapatos para aliviar la presión de los callos.

After Carmichael comes it, what does la Viuda do for the first time?

Abrir la ventana.

What does la Viuda trust with respect to the weather? Why?

Ella confiaba en las predicciones atmosféricas de los callos del señor Carmichael. She believes in superstitions.

What exactly does la Viuda worry about? Why?

Los infinitos compromisos (obligations) que heredó (inherited) de su esposo y que nunca lograría comprender. Like a dog learning to accept an electric shock, even when it can be avoided, la Vuida has a sense of learned helplessness (desesperanza aprendida) that she got from being a bystander for years.

What does la Viuda say to herself? What does she think with respect to God/Genesis? What does this reveal?

“El mundo está mal hecho.” Si Dios no hubiera descansado el domingo habría tenido tiempo de terminar el mundo. This reveals the cynicism (cinismo) of la Viuda and how, instead of acting, she accepts the fact that the world is inherently evil. (She thinks this before the death of her husband, though).

What word is used to describe la Viuda’s state?

naufragio (shipwreck)

What happens to the town, comercially, after Chepe’s death?

Libre de la amenaza de José Montiel, que monopolizaba el comercio local por el terror, el pueblo tomaba represalias (retaliation). En espera de clientes que no llegaron, la leche se cortó (went sour) en los cántaros amontonados en el patio, y se fermentó la miel en sus cueros, y el queso engordó gusanos en los oscuros armarios del depósito. (In short, no one went to buy his products after his death).

How is Jose Montiel’s tomb described? What does it represent?

En su mausoleo adornado con bombillas eléctricas (electric lightbulbs) y arcángeles en imitación de mármol (imitation-marble), José Montiel pagaba seis años de asesinatos y tropelías (assassinations and oppresion).

Imagery of electric lighting and fake marble represents how, in death, Montiel enjoyed a cheapened version of sainthood.

What did Jose Montiel do before the first mayor of the dictatorship came along?

[Trabaja con] su piladora de arroz.

What did Jose Montiel promise the church at this point? What happened next?

Prometió en voz alta regalar al templo un san José de tamaño natural (life-sized) si se ganaba la lotería, y dos semanas después se ganó seis fracciones y cumplió su promesa. (Because of this be had a reputation as a lucky, faithful man)

What was Montiel’s first job for the mayor? How is it described and what does it represent?

ser su informador confidencial. Fue “la primera vez que se le vio usar zapatos.” Represents the dignity (dignidad) that comes with his position in the corrupt government.

What were Montiel/the mayor’s two types of enemies? What were their fates?

Discriminó a sus adversarios políticos en ricos y pobres.

A los pobres los acribilló (shot) la policía en la plaza pública. A los ricos les dieron un plazo de 24 horas para abandonar el pueblo.

What does la Viuda try to convince to do when Chepe is alive? How does he respond?

“Ese hombre es un criminal —le decía—. Aprovecha tus influencias en el gobierno para que se lleven a esa bestia que no va a dejar un ser humano en el pueblo.” Chepe says “No seas pendeja (dumbass)”

How exactly did Montiel seize his rich opponents’ property? What is la Viuda’s response?

José Montiel les compraba sus tierras y ganados por un precio que él mismo se encargaba de fijar (fixed). She responds “Te arruinarás ayudándolos (helping them) para que no se mueran de hambre en otra parte, y ellos no te lo agradecerán nunca (they will never thank you)”

How does Montiel respond to la Viuda’s demands.

He says “Vete para tu cocina y no me friegues tanto.”

What does Montiel do with the wealth from seizing his enemies’ property? How many years does he get to live with these luxuries?

Mandó a sus hijas para París, consiguió a su hijo un puesto consular en Alemania, y se dedicó a consolidar su imperio. Less than 6.

What do the bandits (bandoleros) steal from Montiel’s property?

1 year after his death, they steal 50 novillos (heifers).

What does la Viuda say about the town? Who does she talk to?

Éste es un pueblo desagradecido. Aún estás caliente en tu tumba y ya todo el mundo nos volteó la espalda (turned its backs on us). her dead husband/herself.

Who was the only person la Viuda saw during those rainly months? What does her rudeness to him represent?

Carmichael. It represents the class/race hierarchy (jerarquía), as instead of connecting over their shared oppression, la Viuda doesn’t care about Carmichael or see him as a person.

What does Carmichael do to try and help la Viuda?

El señor Carmichael había escrito varias cartas al hijo de José Montiel. Le sugería la conveniencia de que viniera a ponerse al frente de los negocios, y hasta se permitió hacer algunas consideraciones personales sobre la salud de la viuda.

In a final letter, why does Pepe admit he doesn’t return to visit la Viuda?

Por temor de que le dieran un tiro.

Why do the daughters say they do not return?

[Paris] es la civilización. Es imposible vivir en un país tan salvaje donde asesinan a la gente por cuestiones políticas.

What does la Viuda write to her daughters?

“Quédense allá para siempre y no se preocupen por mí. Yo soy feliz sabiendo que ustedes son felices.”

What is the first thing the widow smiled at for 2 years?

This, in her daughter’s letter (in a different handwriting): “Imagínate, que el clavel (carnation) más grande y más bonito se lo ponen al cerdo en el culo (pig’s ass)”

What does la Viuda do to her thumb? What object does she take?

Se vendó (bandaged) la uña del pulgar derecho, irritada por los mordiscos. A rosary (rosario)

What inhibits la Viuda’s praying? What does she do? What does this represent?

The bandaid (esparadrapo) on her thumb made it hard to feel the rosary, so she held it in her left hand. This represents how debilitating her anxiety is: she can’t even pray normally anymore.

Who does la Viuda see in her dream? What does she ask and how does this character respond?

Mama Grande.

Le preguntó:
        —¿Cuándo me voy a morir?
        La Mamá Grande levantó la cabeza.
        —Cuando te empiece el cansancio del brazo.

What does Mama Grande’s message mean?

Mama Grande represents a liberated, working-class woman, since she is seen squashing lice with her fingers (destripando piojos con los pulgares). Mama Grande tells la Viuda the hard truth that her life was spent not acting but watching, which caused her to waste away. She shows that la Viuda, with no hope, will die when she gets tired of living with nothing.