War Stories

Chapter Five: Write about your reactions to any of the war stories presented in Chapter Five.

  

          My Blog will now take a different direction. I will begin posting on different chapters of my English Comp.II Book. This first blog is directed towards an excerpt from Chapter 5 titled "Two Words" Isabel Allende. After reading this excerpt, I found myself left with a feeling of love not war. I think this passage had a lot of undertones to it that had to be revealed.

        

          In the beginning the story started out telling of a young woman born into poverty. She was so poor she did not know how to read, write, or even have a name. It was a chance encounter that led this strong woman to her fortune. She learned early the power of one’s word. She was so articulate when she chose her name. She chose the name Belisa Crepusculario, in this she felt she had found poetry, due to her name translating into beauty and twilight. Belisa Crepusculario, may have been born poor, and considered beneath many, but once she mastered the art of words, she had influence over others and was the one in command.

          Belisa Crepusculario was hired to write a campaign speech for the most feared man in all the land. He was a Colonel, which struck terror in the hearts of all. This was a legacy he did not wish. He wanted to be adored, loved if you will. He wanted to see admiration in the eyes of the people, and win over their hearts. The Colonel had Belisa Crepusculario write his speech, and once it was done, she had to read it to him several times, for he could not read.

          Belisa Crepusculario only saw a lonely man when she looked upon the Colonel, so before she left she gave him a gift of two words. Before she whispered the two words in his ear, she explained to him, that the words were his alone. That he could use the words as often as he wished, because they belonged to him. I believe this was the turning point in the Colonel’s heart. He looked upon her differently after she had softly whispered those words in his ear.

          The Colonel delivered his speech from town to town, and each time he left hope with the people. He had captured the people’s heart, just as he had wished. The Colonel’s trusted confidant, El Mulato, thought that Belisa Crepusculario had cast a spell upon the Colonel. He set out to find her and bring her back to remove the words she had whispered. When Belisa Crepusculario looked upon the Colonel, she no longer saw a lonely man. His eyes told a different story, he had softened.

          The two words were never revealed in this story by the Author. I think it left a reader with a more powerful impact. You could believe the two words were any type of combination, and the list was endless. I myself believe she delivered two words that had a meaning of you are not alone, or you are loved. Perhaps the Spanish words "Te Amo" were used for I love you. This is what he longed for the most, to be loved. Those words would have had a profound impact on him since he had never heard anyone say them to him.

          I think this short story delivered a message of the kindest words can melt the coldest heart. Let’s face it, hate breeds hate, yet love has the power to change the world. 

W/C 583