Story the judge’s wife by the author Isabel Allende
In the story the wife of the judge, author Isabel Allende writes a pretty story that seizes the issues prevalent to all generations of men and women, who coexist in today’s society. The story is about the unexpected power of a virtuous woman, who is married to an influential and traditional judge who sees her as her subordinate. Allende uses literary techniques such as the point of view of the narrator, irony, and the characterization to develop the main theme of defining society stereotypes.
First, the story is written by the perspective of an omniscient narrator in the third person who is reliable. This way of view is an advantage because the reader can understand the story of each protagonist, their personal knowledge, individual situations that have occurred and that will develop, for the change of view. Well, an omniscient narrative reveals the evolution of the characterization of the protagonists that is comparable between the past, the present, and the future. This is evident when Casilda appears, at first as a useless woman, but changes to be the hero who protects her children at a time of crisis, challenging her stereotype of a traditional wife.
In addition, Allende presents the protagonists with direct characterizations, an explicit description by the narrator or character, and indirect where the author shows the internal attitude and thoughts so that the audience assumes the features that make up the characters. To begin with, we see through the eyes of Nicolás Vidal, a thirty -year -old man and Juana la Sad’s son, who grew up without intimate love and about prostitutes. From Children Vidal had had a violent life, he lived as a fugitive and becomes the leader of a band of criminals. With this direct characterization, the audience knows that he is rebellious and does not have good morals when Allende writes, “he lived as a fugitive. At twenty he was a head of a band of desperate men. The habit of violence developed the strength of his muscles ”(72) also fiscally he has four tips, a deformity that predicts that he will lose his life for a woman. His true character is revealed when the judge used Juana as a bait to capture Vidal, put it in a cage in the center of the square for three days without water and Vidal does nothing for his mother. Although his band thought that Junna should release, Vidal was more concerned with defeating the judge. Well, indirectly vidal is cruel, without senses and conscience.
Also, Casilda has a characterization that changes for the story while challenging the stereotypes of the traditional wife. The title is an example of who she was before, a woman without equal to her husband. Vidal thought that Casilda is weak when she says "so insignificant and remote seemed to him Casilda" (11). She took power when the notables came that her husband committed an act of injustice with Juana’s punishment, Casilda brought her children to protest. It was the shout of his children who made him stop the tour. This moment "was the first time in seven years that she faced him and chose to do it in front of the entire town" (65). Casilda is strong and intelligent when her husband died of a heart attack and had to protect her family from violence. She had to have sex with Vidal to save time. Casilda "understood the need to act immediately to save children" (195).
In conclusion, it is ironic that Casilda is more powerful than her husband, the judge. In times of terror she was dominant, and protects her family. When Casilda shares his body with Vidal, they express gratitude and free emotions. Although he is a criminal, he deserves love too. Allende uses literary technicians to emphasize what stereotypes are the ideals of life, and need to be challenged to grow as humans.
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