The House of the Spirits
Isabel Allende

The Conspiracy

The conspiracy referred to in this chapter title is much like Hitler's Wannsee Conference where the Nazis communicated Hitler's decision to establish the jewish death factories. Esteban Trueba meets with other fascist leaders and the CIA to plot the overthrow of the elected socialist government.

After the euphoria of the socialist win, the right is in shock, as they see themselves as born to rule. Poor people wander through rich neighborhoods, and there is a run on the banks, mass emigration, and severe shortages of goods including food and fuel.

The issues raised here go to the efficacy of democracy as a political system. In a situation of extreme polarisation, the established powers do not recognise the legitimacy of an electoral change of government. Democracy works where there is broad consensus on the institutional role of government. Where a new government aims for sweeping change, the question of dialogue about reform processes, including representatives of former regimes, is highly complex. The communists have already made clear they do not see electoral change as worthwhile, because they do not accept the legitimacy of institutions such as private property. This is why communists are dangerous tyrants when they get into power.

While the communists paint murals of bloody flowers, and Esteban Trueba is humiliated by his peons, who let his farm go to ruin and then hold him captive when he arrives with a machine gun to complain, the opposition paint this cryptic word on the wall.

What it means is that the fascists wish to kill large numbers of communists as General Suharto did in Indonesia in 1965, eight years previously. The polarization of the society has established deep hatred, such that the plotters of the military coup look forward to liquidating the leadership of the left.

The last surviving Moira sister, one of the three fates who had been close to Clara, comes to prophesie doom to Esteban, who will be on the winning side but will be cursed, and to warn Alba to leave. The Trueba family has shown far too much ambiguity for Esteban's leadership of the fascist movement to save him or his loved ones.

I had to smile when on page 391 Esteban claims 'You're not going to bribe anyone around here! The Congress and the armed forces are above corruption.' He was right though, that the best way to manipulate public opinion was to buy the mass media.

Yes, this sort of comment about bribery makes Esteban appear a buffoon. He has his own conservative fantasy and does not allow reality to intrude upon it. He is like a mirror image of the communist sympathizers in the west whom Stalin called useful idiots.

Apart from use of the media, the conspirators also used truck strikes and withholding of essential supplies to spread the impression that socialists cannot possibly manage the economy.

I've broken my rule on this one - read through your posts before I read the chapter. Going to do so next. Will probably return to make any comments I may think of.

Again, Robert - thanks for your insight on this.

I was so sorry to see Blanca and Pedro split up. Booooo hoooooo!



Be back tomorrow, for sure!