For example, Augustine is not happy with her daughter’s relationship with Feliciano because of his low status. To some extent, it is culturally unacceptable for a woman to choose a lover of her choice. This is when Eliza’s mother Rose Sommer’s plans to wed her on a socially exalted marriage (Allende 54).Ĭhilean culture does not appreciate the freedom and independence of women. Another characteristic of the Chilean culture is the value for social status. Women, according to the culture, should stay back at home to do household chores.

An example of this is when Joaquin decides to leave his low paying job and go to search for greater wealth. Men dominate and control household resources (Allende 4).Ĭhilean culture also values the need for men to work hard so that they can provide for their families. Patriarchy is one of the major characteristics of Chilean culture. She portrays Chileans as people who have cultural values that exhort the hegemony of men and this gives them the mandate to control women. The author explores Chilean culture in the period during the mid to late 19th century. Chilean cultures during the mid to late 19th century as presented in the novel This explains why Eliza disguised herself and was aiming at uniting with the people in California and ultimately, gained her freedom and independence. The author portrays that women use rebellion and other means of making their way out to pursue their interests in a patriarchal society. While analyzing the second part of the book, we find Eliza trying to rebel against patriarchy where she persistently advocates for her independence and identity. This explains that women in the novel do not have the right to choose their spouses. Eliza keeps her love life secret because her mother is planning to give her in a socially exalted marriage. She runs away to California to seek fortunes to reunite with her lover. This shows that women in the novel do not have any freedom of their own. She now starts another kind of journey that changes her and she ends up looking for her freedom and independence.

Her search for love journey changes over time. Eliza decides to set off on a journey to California in search of Joaquin when she discovers that she is pregnant with Joaquin’s child.

Fortune's daughter isabel allende