The Shadow of the Wind-Week 7, Post B

The story of Penelope Aldaya and Julian Carax resembles a Romeo and Juliet sort of tale. It is the story of forbidden love and ends with the loves becoming separated, never to see each other again. Neither of them dies, but Penelope’s family moves to Argentina, taking her with them. Julian is left alone in Paris, having just fled Barcelona. They sneak around for quite some time before they decide to run away together. Unfortunately Mrs. Aldaya walks in on Julian and Penelope one day, causing much controversy. Julian is forced to leave Barcelona or his father and Mr. Aldaya will dispense him to the army. The day Julian and Penelope were discovered was the last time they ever saw each other. It is a truly tragic story. I made another connection with the story of Romeo and Juliet however. Jacinta is the maid who works in the Aldaya home and she is Penelope’s best friend. Penelope has known her all her life and tells her absolutely everything. Jacinta reminds me of the nurse from Romeo and Juliet because of her close connection to Penelope and her help to give Julian and Penelope time together. She covers for Penelope on many occasions while she and Julian are sneaking around and even looked for opportunities for the two of them to be together. Penelope meant everything to Jacinta and they had full trust in each other. I would not be surprised if Carlos Ruiz Zafon had the story of Romeo and Juliet in mind while inventing the love tale between Penelope and Julian.

The Shadow of the Wind-Week 7, Post A

Women are perceived in a more domestic fashion in the time and setting of The Shadow of the Wind. They are expected to stay at home and care for the children and house. This perception does not surprise me considering the time period this story takes place. During the 1940s in Europe, women did not have all the freedoms they have today. Domesticity was expected of them. There also seems to be a great lack of respect for women by the men in this story. The language and the context they continually use while discussing women is disrespectful and knows no boundries. The men are not ashamed of what they are saying and appear quite shallow to a female like me. There has been a plethora of men who shamelessely cheat on their spouses and also men who are only satisfied with the most beautiful of women. The men seem to have standards for women that they expect all women to uphold, which is a riduculous request.

The Shadow of the Wind-Week 6, Post B

I am completely taken aback by this new knowledge that Inspector Fumero was one of Carax’s childhood friends. When Fumero was being described as a child I was not surprised to find out who he was. His childhood behaviors are exactly like his adult behaviors and his personality has not changed. I am wondering if Fumero has something to do with Lain Coubert or with trying to erase Carax from people’s mind. Although Carax was Fumero’s only friend as a child, Fumero always seemed to have a grudge against Carax. I would even go as far as to say that he was jealous of Carax, especially when Carax and Penelope began their relationship. We learn that Fumero had an obsession with Penelope and this could be the reason why Fumero has it out for Carax. I would predict that this jealousy over Penelope would be enough incentive for Fumero considering his devious and disturbing personality. If Fumero were to discover Daniel’s Carax investigation it could be very dangerous for Daniel. Fumero seems to me like a disturbed person and I don’t think he’s the kind of person who would give up on his grudge against Carax. These traits could be detrimental to Daniel because Fumero’s perseverance could harm him. He might go as far as to torture him to get the Carax novels Daniel has in possession.

The Shadow of the Wind-Week 6, Post A

Some characters are exhibiting behaviors that display an open-minded outlook on meeting new people. This open-mindedness does not appear as much in America. A prime example of this open-mindedness is the meeting between Daniel and Nuria Monfort. Daniel learned that Nuria had a connection with Julian Carax and decided to go to her home to question her. When Daniel arrived at Nuria's apartment, Nuria clearly was suspicious as to why he had come to question her, but she did not let this limit the information she provided for him. She was open-minded about Daniel's intentions and allowed him into her home without many questions. Even after Daniel displayed an interest in Nuria, despite their age difference and the fact that she is married, Nuria still let him question her and to be in her home. This behavior goes both ways. Daniel walked into Nuria's home and the first thing he notices is that it is dirty, unkept, and dismal. He then learns that Nuria's husband is in jail and she is waiting for him to get out. This does not change Daniel's view of Nuria and he allowes himself to get to know her without have pre-conceived opinions. Not only does he get to know her, but Daniel even finds himself falling for her and has to fight urges not to lean in and kiss her.

The Shadow of the Wind-Week 5, Post B

I am convinced that Daniel has a weakness for women who are not his own age. There have been three instances when Daniel has fallen for a woman beyond his years. The first was Clara, the second was Bea, and the third was Nuria. The author has yet to write about Daniel falling for someone his own age. I do however support Daniel and Bea’s relationship if she chooses him. Bea is currently engaged to a man serving time in the military and they have planned to get married once he has finished his service. I have no doubt in my mind that Daniel would make a better fit than her fiancé. Bea has displayed clear signs that she is not truly in love with her fiancé and she also displayed quite an interest in Daniel. While I believe they should be together, there is a problem. Bea is Daniel’s best friend Tomas’s older sister. When Tomas came in to see Daniel the day after Bea came home late from being out with Daniel, Tomas discussed his father’s rage at Bea when she arrived home so late and he claimed that he would rip the limbs off the guy she was with. This obviously made Daniel extremely nervous and he guilt himself into telling Tomas that the mystery guy was him. Tomas did not seem pleased to hear this, but he did not protest against the relationship. He simply said “Don’t hurt my sister,” and got up and left. I have reason to believe that Daniel’s interest in Bea goes beyond infatuation, as opposed to his previous interests.

The Shadow of the Wind-Week 5, Post A

It may be because of the time period that this novel takes place, but I noticed a higher degree of Anti-Semitism in the novel which takes place in Barcelona. The novel takes place during the 1940s, right after the Spanish Civil War. I'm sure the only reason I noticed this is because of the time period the novel is set in. There was a large amount of Anti-Semitism during the 1940s due to the rise of the Nazi party and of Hitler. I am not very knowlegeable about the level of Anti-Semitism in Spain at the time, but I am quite aware of how the countries around Spain felt in terms of Anti-Semitism. I am currently taking a course in A.P. European History. The quote that stuck out the most to me was this: "'The man is going to get you into trouble one of these days, mark my words. He's an anarchist, a Mason, or a Jew at the very least. With that great big nose of his-'" A woman in the novel made this statement about a man who spent his days as a polite watchmaker, and his nights as a transvestite. It is safe to say that there was a lot of intoleration to the homosexuals of the time as well.

The Shadow of the Wind-Week 4, Post B

An inspector showed up recently at the Semperes’ bookshop inquiring about their neighbor, Don Federico, a simple watchmaker. The inspector, who we learn is named Fumero, is suspicious of Federico and consistently refers to him as a “pansy”. At one point during the conversation between Daniel and Fumero, Fumero subtly accuses Federico of being a communist. I’m beginning to wonder if this inspector and Federico have anything to do with the mystery of Julian Carax. Could the reason for people wanting to burn Carax’s novels be political? This story takes place right after World War II and the threat of Communism is a prominent concern. Daniel has never mentioned anything regarding Communist connotations in his copy of Carax’s The Shadow of the Wind. However, it is important to keep in mind that Daniel was around eleven years old when he read Carax’s novel. He might not have been fully aware of Communism and even if he was it is doubtful that he sufficiently understood it. In a letter Daniel uncovered that was written to Carax from his mother, Penelope, some questionable information is found. She’s very secretive and is careful not to give away too much information in the letter. Penelope discusses Carax’s running away from home, and tries to convince him that what he has heard about her is not true. She does not give great insight into what exactly she is accused of, nor is the reader able to decipher why she is currently in hiding. I feel that there is a high possibility that whatever Penelope is hiding from may be a political conflict which could be the reason for the visit of the inspector and the suspicion of Federico.