The color green, and what it symbolizes, has been contradicted throughout the history of man kind. From being a symbol of hope and growth, to a symbol associated with sickness, envy and devil, green takes on a different form in this novel. As it is connected to nature, green is usually closely associated with notions of regeneration, fertility and rebirth. In spanish tradition, as seen in Lorca's "Romance Sonambulo", green is also a symbol of sexuality. These interpretations of the color green are closely connected with the text through Aura's green eyes, Aura's dress, the slime on the wine, the curtains and the plants on the patio.
In the religion of christianity green is looked at as the color representing the triumph of life after death. This is why christian priests wear green robes during the period of time after Pentecost known as Ordinary Time. This color is used for it represents new life and growth, which isn't surprising due to the fact that Ordinary Time follows the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (New Testament). As a representation of re-birth after death (resurrection), it holds a similar notion to Aura's statement "You have to die before you can be reborn" (123).
The meaning of green throughout history can be blended together with Christianity's meaning of green, both of which are represented in the book. One question that remains is if the color green can represent something else and still hold true. I believe that the interpretation of green as a color of death, sickness and the devil can also be found. The idea that this text compresses our idea of time into a place where Aura is controlled by Consuelo in a voodoo like way, brings up the notion that black magic and satin may also be compressed with Jesus and christianity. The symbols of Christianity are continuously combined with Consuelo's ritual when Felipe witnesses her activities. This completely throws the book off balance for it questions the last stable notion within the book.
I definitely think Fuentes used many symbols that could be interpreted in different ways, depending on our perception of the symbols. The sporadic appearance of cats can be analyzed in this way. As Casey mentioned, cats are often a symbol of rebirth, due to their legendary nine lives. Yet cats can also be seen as a darker symbol of witchcraft or paganism, as Professor Schwartz brought up. In another interpretation, cats (black, in particular) are signs of bad luck to come. In accordance with his use of second person, Fuentes clearly uses these subjective symbols to further personalize our experience of the story. If I choose to interpret green as fertility and cats as rebirth, whereas you regard green as envy and cats as paganism, we are likely to hold different views of the story, because each viewpoint is personalized based on our interpretation of his symbols.
ReplyDeleteVery cool post and comment!
ReplyDeleteKurt, I really enjoyed reading about all of the different interpretations for the color green and how they can all relate to the novel. I think that speaks to Fuentes' ability as a writer to tie everything together in a coherent fashion. Anyway, before today, I had always connected green with envy, not knowing that it also meant so many different things, such as sickness and triumph of life. Even though fertility appears to be the most related to Aura, all interpretations work.
And I guess my thinking that fertility is most related speaks to Koren's post and my perception of the novel. Although I caught the christian symbols and pagan moments, such as torturing the cats, they were not my main focus throughout the novel. I paid more attention to the love relationships between Aura, Consuelo, Felipe and the General. However, if someone had focused on Aura as a projection of Consuelo, green as rebirth would be most influential. Or Kurt, you seem to focus on green and the catholic church given your title, so maybe you noted the pagan details more closely.
Oh, perception.
Perception certainly drastically affects how each person interprets this novel. Multiple times, but especially on page 15, the narrator tells us that Felipe can't see Consuelo until he first "turns [his] back on that galaxy of religious lights". Throughout the novel the religious lights constantly prevent Felipe from being able to fully understand what is occurring around him. If you read the book as the religious objects signifying paganism, Felipe's turning away from these objects allows him to turn his back on paganism and therefore enables him to see Consuelo for who she really is: an old lady trying to preserve her youth.
ReplyDelete