The Stories of Eva Luna

“You think in words; for you, language is an inexhaustible thread you weave as if life were created as you tell it.”

Rolf Carlé describes Eva in the Prologue, addressing her as “you” to reflect their intimacy. He uses a metaphor to reflect on Eva’s abilities as a storyteller, the way telling stories is natural for her, and the way her language seems to have the power to shape reality. He contrasts her use of language with his own creative expression; while she “thinks in words,” he thinks in terms of photography and images.

“I am spectator and protagonist. I am in shadow, veiled by the fog of a translucent curtain. I know I am myself, but I am also this person observing from the outside.”

Here, Rolf considers what it means that he views the world as a photographer, imagining that he is looking at a photo of himself. Because this passage is written in first person, Rolf’s voice also works as a stand-in for the voice of the author, Allende, and for artists in general. Allende uses Rolf’s perspective to explore what it feels like to create art about your life, to be both witness to it and the center of the piece. While he elevates Eva Luna’s use of language above his own, his language is poetic here, using metaphor to create a paradoxical image—a barrier that is simultaneously foggy and clear.