And of Clay Are We Created

by Isabel Allende

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How does Allende's choice of narrator enhance the story in "And of Clay Are We Created"?

Quick answer:

Eva Luna, the narrator, is not a part of the action. She serves as a witness to the events that take place in "And of Clay We Are Created."

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"And of Clay We Are Created" is a short story by Isabel Allende based on the true story of a young girl whose village was destroyed by a volcanic eruption. Rolf Carlé, the main character, is a reporter who has been sent to cover the destruction of the village. He comes upon a young girl, Azucena, who is covered in mud with only her head above the surface. Eva Luna, whose name is not mentioned in the story, serves as the narrator and is in a relationship with Rolf. By using Eva Luna as the first person narrator, Allende is able to provide a unique perspective to the story.

Though the narrator is not a participant in the action with Rolf and Azucena, she offers her insight as a spectator. She says of Rolf that, "it seemed as if nothing could shake his fortitude." He seems to become braver...

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in the face of the camera. The narrator's familiarity with Rolf allows her to see each time he begins to show emotional strain. We first notice this whenever the narrator says she can "hear his voice break." As Rolf and Azucena are suffering, the narrator is suffering with them. She shares that, "The child’s every suffering hurt me as it did him; I felt his frustration, his impotence."

The narrator eventually watches Rolf from National Television so she can see unedited material. She makes phone calls in a desperate attempt to find a pump so that Rolf can remove some of the water around Azucena. Since she is not part of the direct action and can see multiple points of coverage on the disaster, we can sense the narrator's frustration as she notices the multitude of things being provided, such as "spools of cable, tapes, film, videos, precision lenses, recorders, sound consoles, lights, reflecting screens, auxiliary motors, cartons of supplies, electricians, sound technicians, and cameramen." All of this can be provided, but no one can provide a pump. If the narrator was in the action, the reader may not have known this to be true.

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