"what matters is what you do in this world, not how you come into it" (pg 11- 'Daughter of Fortune' -Allende

I am now getting more intrigued into the story and history of "Daughter of Fortune." I was intrigued by the story of Eliza, and am being anxious to figuring out her true story. While thinking about the possibilities of her history I was thinking what the history of the importance of the women in society held in the Chilean culture. I was thinking that it may have been similar to the Chinese culture only allowing a certain number of children in family and not being as fond of the women of the culture.
This was my main idea or purpose for why Eliza was left alone to only be picked up by a true loving family. So i did a little research to help me start understanding where Eliza is from. Well I first discovered that the story itself was based in the 1840's. At this point in the Chilean history Chile was in a time of war between the 3 Andean provinces of the old Peru. After three years of fighting Chile comes out ahead. Few years later there is more warfare between the same nations, economically to fight for deposits of nitrates. Surprisingly enough Roman Catholicism was a huge part of the social life in this time period in this nation. In correlation with this family was very important, and celebrating times together. This really threw me for a loop. The war and lack of peace had led me on to see a lack of respect for the daughters because they weren't as useful in the fighting of wars, however it was the opposite; everyone in the family was to be respected and brought together to love. Now instead of understanding more, or feeling a lead to the reason for the absence of Eliza's true family I feel more lost and intrigued. Something quite poignant must have occurred to have broken up the strong catholic family dynamic, and I am anxious to continue unveiling the pieces of the puzzle.


"History of Chile." WorldRover - Country and Travel Guides. Sept. 2010. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. .