The inevitable destiny of women
Having goals, dreams and hope is something complex when it seems unattainable especially when fate is predetermined. In the story "The Red Sox", by Emilia Pardo Bazán, it represents the reality and the turn of events that specifically women immigrants, they face to want to move forward to have a better life. The story "The Red Sox" uses images for exemplary violence, women’s abuse, and false hope.
The red socks represent the boldness that Ildara has to escape her life with her father, Clodio. So much anxiety comes from being forced to renounce the freedom of expression of her and underestimate of her; Her life is under the command of her father. Ildara’s socks capture Clodio’s attention at the beginning of the story when he is lighting the fire to cook. Seeing the socks, Clodio gets angry because the socks meant that Ildara is thinking of leaving and is secretly making plans to go to "the unknown of the countries". The red color symbolizes strength and power; ideas that, according to her father’s ideology, do not belong to Ildara or she has the right to exercise them. Clodio gets furious and the situation culminates until he hits Ildara through the means of staying alone and leaves her without seeing an eye and without a tooth. Her father uses violence to control her and make sure she stays in the shadows of despair. The use of violence against women exemplifies the selfishness of men to dominate women’s lives.
The stockings represent the sexuality and clandestinity of Ildara. In the story there is a subtle indication that Ildera suffers sexual abuse of her father ".. A robust leg, imprisoned in a red, cotton average… ”The description of her legs from her point of view shows that he fantasizes with her. The father takes advantage of the senses of submission and fear that Ildara has towards him. Her father’s look and thoughts show that she is linked to him and her hacienda even if she doesn’t want. Ildara uses her body to try to leave her life making a deal with "El Hook" a place on the ship where she will take her to a new country. In the appointment, "that she advanced pesos for the trip, and even gave her five signal, of which the famous means …" means that Ildara’s fate is prostitution. The hook gives him the socks in which he represents the secrecy and sexual abuse that Ildara faces the men. Although Ildara wants to go from her life with her father, she faces sexual abuse and this implies that her future will have more abuse for her destiny. In addition, her actions with her hook put it ironically in a position where she becomes a victim of the same system that she wants to escape with her father.
In the story, it is denoted that Ildara is a young, beautiful and full of hope. She wants a new beginning in a new country to get out of poverty. The mirror that Ildara USA reflects the truth of his life. In the appointment, “combed like you, who are always giving it with the mirror chub?"Her father is talking to Ildara implying that she every time she looks, she thinks about leaving poor life and using her beauty to get ahead. A mirror is soft and fragile and represents her hopes of a promising future.
Wanting to emigrate to a new place is a dangerous idea because she has to plan that her trip is calm and without problems. The mirror helps to show that leaving his life is something delicate and only has his beauty to assist him. The story ends with Ildara seeing its reflection in the river after losing sight in one eye and a tooth. Compared to the beginning, his reflection in the water represents the truth of his destiny. Water in this case is not something made as a man like the mirror if not naturally happening and difficult to change his way. Ildara’s fate was predetermined to stay and his hopes to leave non -existent.
Bazán gives us an example of the cruelty of life and despair that many face by wanting to change the course of their life. Although the red socks are a silent form of protest because it demonstrates its challenge of its destiny, Ildara’s hopes are not actually made by their predetermined destiny of staying with his father living a life of abuse and hostility. In the axis, when trying to take the rank of his life, Ildara comes to overcome the cycle destined for Ruin, since machismo and male brutality at last always reigns about women and their rights. In addition, red socks are a silent form of protest because it demonstrates challenge of their destiny.
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