Latin American Short Stories

13 responses so far ↓

•   Madeleine // Sep 14th 2014 at 7:49 pm

  Lugones’ short story, “The Rain of Fire” is a portrayal of the 7 deadly sins.

  For instance, the narrator admits, “After my library, the dining room was my pride.”

  1. The narrator also says, “in my happy celibacy I knew two things above all: reading and eating.” The story does not provide a physical description of the narrator, but is he overweight? Is he gluttonous or does he just enjoy a good meal?

  2. The word “gluttony” is even used on page 3 and brings attention to the concept of overindulging.

  3. The narrator is a wealthy man, and is obviously proud of his nice house, including the library, dining room, etc. The story also reveals that he owns extensive gardens, birds, fish, slaves, servants, and a cellar with substantial wines and good food. At the beginning of the work, the narrator says, “From my terrace I stood above a vast confusion of rooftops…” This gave me the impression that he lived in a grand mansion and felt like he was above everybody and everything else.

  4. The word “pride” is appears on page 3, and this is the second time the author uses this word.

  5. In addition to being a wealthy man, the narrator is also well known and recognized. A statue stands in his honor in the city as thanks for contributing recipes and giving consultations for a city banquet. The narrator says, “this gave me the right-I say it without pride-to a municipal statue…” However, if he wasn’t arrogantly proud of this statue, then he would not have said it was his right.

  6. Once it occurred to the narrator that he should leave to escape the rain of copper-fire, he thought that is was strange that the idea did not come to him sooner. He did not seem particularly concerned for his health or safety. Does he think he is invincible?

  7. He immediately dismissed the idea of escaping because he did not want to leave his amassed wealth behind. He reflects, “my table, my books, my birds, my fish that had just recently moved into a new pond…my fifty years of serenity, in the good fortune of today, in the carelessness of tomorrow…?”

  8. On page 5, the narrator remarks that he thought about escaping but was, “a bit debilitated, if truth be told, by the digestive lethargy or my customary siesta.” So, does he value his habitual nap over his safety? The word lethargy relates to slothfulness, another deadly sin.

  9. Even when the narrator acknowledged his imminent death, he still felt like he was in complete control and he was superior to nature and the natural cycle of death. He had a poisonous wine that would allow him to kill himself instead of being burned alive. He said, “unable to escape, death awaited me; but with this poison, I owned death.” It seems as if he was caught up in his own self righteousness and power, even while being close to death.

  10. His own vanity and pride kept him from thinking about the needs and well being of others. Not once did he feel concerned for his servants and workers, and he did not offer any poisonous wine to the other man who was trapped in the cellar with him.

•   Hannah // Sep 14th 2014 at 7:52 pm

  1. In “The Rain of Fire”, by Leopoldo Lugones, the setting is established as urban, very warm, and perfect. There is an atmosphere of overwhelming constancy, despite the swarms of people and the “deafening vehicles”. Although the scene is not peaceful, it is reassuring in its monotonous sounds and business. We sense “the calm before the storm”.

  2. The speaker states that the “rain would not stop [him] from lunching”. His lifestyle is sumptuous and not based on a sense of what the proper action might be. The fire is like hell and the speaker’s reluctance to concern himself even under threat of danger confirms his excessive lifestyle which could condemn him.

  3. The speaker also admits his tendency to gluttony. Even though he is celibate, he admits that he eats too much, which even leads to gout. He is not interested in self-betterment or spending time with people to enjoy life, but instead is more interested in how to pleasure himself. He takes no regard of others. He is selfish.

  4. The previous urban din turns to complete silence after the rain of copper increases. There is a sense of foreboding and even more danger than before. The eerie silence is ethereal. The real danger of the rain begins, and the city begins to fall apart.

  5. The birds “[pile] up in a corner” of the birdcage “almost on top of one another”. The animals are aware of the dangers of the current setting. The animals are more in tune with the natural world than the greedy and demanding humans.

  6. The speaker discusses his properties that he owns, but has “never seen”. While many people who are poor suffer to survive, this man is so excessive that he has multiple properties that he has never even visited. It’s luxurious and somewhat ridiculous.

  7. After the first rain of copper, the citizens take advantage of their situation by trying to make money off of the copper. However, the copper appears as a judgmental force, and the distribution of the material is a exploiting the force that was really sent to ruin them.

  8. The speaker has two friends come over, who he then gets drunk so that they “left completely inebriated”. They are living without fear of the judgment that may pass on them. The men believe they will be okay under control of the natural disaster. They are not concerning themselves with it.

  9. The speaker states that the burning of the city was “worth watching” In a very twisted manner, he believes that he is watching something enjoyable, while the rest of his fellow humans and friends are all burning to death.

  10. The speaker meets another man at the end of this, a man who “stabb[ed] the owner of [a] cellar to death. This creates a sense that perhaps they are in purgatory and they were cursed to live like this forever.

•   applegsa // Sep 14th 2014 at 11:18 pm

  “An admirable lunch awaited me in the dining room; in my happy celibacy I knew two things above all: reading and eating. After my library, the dining room was my pride. Fed up with women and a bit gouty, I could no longer expect anything other than gluttony from the amiable vices. I ate alone, while a slave read me geographic narratives. I have never been able to understand eating with company; and if women annoy me, as I have said, you will of course understand that I abhor men.”

  In this example, it is difficult to gather whether the person speaking is a male or a female, especially because this person claims to despise both men and women. The speaker is generally pessimistic and bitter, and thinks highly of him/herself and lowly of everyone else. He/she is rather closed-minded; thinking that everything he/she does is the correct thing to do, and not understanding why others do things differently. This is strange considering the speaker seems to be the one who does everything differently from the general public. For example, this person has a specific eating routine, and can’t or doesn’t attempt to understand why other people may have a different eating routine— most people prefer to eat in the company of someone. Although, at the same time, this person does eat in the company of their slave; the speaker simply doesn’t consider their slave a person if the speaker claims they only eat alone. This person seems to be well-off, shown by the fact that he/she has a slave and takes great pride in his/her dining and living rooms. This may also contribute to this person’s feeling that he/she is “above” everyone else.

•   jacobsoh // Sep 15th 2014 at 12:36 am

  “Revived by wine, I considered my situation. It was rather simple. Unable to escape, death awaited me; but with this poison, I owned death. So I decided to observe death as much as possible, for it was, without a doubt, a unique spectacle. A rain of incandescent copper! The city in flames! This was certainly worth watching.”

  1. Through the story we can tell that the narrator is clearly one of the wealthiest people in the city in which he lives in.
  2. As a result he can watch the city being destroyed, while drinking wine, in his big fancy house as the poor people, such as his servants are being killed as the city is being destroyed.
  3. He is realistic in his thinking that his death is soon inevitable just as everyone else is dying.
  4. Although he is wealthier than everyone else, he too is not immortal. Death affects everyone, the rich and the poor.
  5. Although death may be upon him, his wealth has helped him to survive much longer than everyone else.
  6. His wealth and objects even give him the power over death because he is able to decide how and when he will die with his poison. This again shows the power wealth brings him.
  7. As he waits till he wants to die he observes the deaths all around him because he thinks they are “a unique spectacle.” That is a somewhat morbid thing to do as you await your own death.
  8. It seems as though he almost finds some joy in watching those around him die and his city become destroyed.
  9. He is watching “the city in flames” like it some interesting play or show to watch.
  10. He has the protection of his home for now, so he can watch the city go up in flames, whereas everyone else is stuck in the “spectacle” he is currently watching.

•   Estiven // Sep 15th 2014 at 1:51 am

  “I could no longer expect anything other than gluttony from the amiable vices. I ate alone, while a slave read me geography narratives. I have never been able to understand eating with company and if women annoy me, as I have said , you will of course understand that I abhor men.”
  1. Even though the main character has money, slaves and all the best food he can get his life is plagued by solitude.
  2. He understands that he avoids social interaction with other people but is clear he doesn’t mind being alone because he is comfortable with hating the social interaction.
  3. Somebody that likes to be alone and barely has any companion except his slaves can be considered miserable.
  4. What other people consider a sad life he considers a life fulfill and not affected by others opinions of him.
  5. The narrator is also a passionate reader he can give up reading for dining he has to both at the same time.
  6. From the line where mentions “gluttony” we can tell the narrator is man that who isn’t greedy and hates to sin.
  7. “Geographic narratives” has to include animals habitats so one of his passions is animals.
  8. Therefore because he hates human interaction he probably values animals life then human life.
  9. What does the fact that she hate men and women imply about her gender?
  10. He/she has a slave so what is the time period, is this period of time were slavery is allowed and who are the slaves? Why isn’t the narrator a slave what makes the different in this time period?

•   danona // Sep 15th 2014 at 1:52 am

  “I remember that it was a beautiful, sunny day, the streets swarming with people and deafening vehicles. An abundantly warm day, with a perfect feel about it.”

  By carefully analyzing the opening sentence to Lugones’ The Rain of Fire, so much information about the story can be discovered. Through diction, Lugones creates perfect imagery, allowing the reader to picture the scene in their mind. The day is described as “beautiful” and “sunny” (Lugones 1), creating a backdrop for the chaotic streets described soon afterwards. The streets “swarming with people” (Lugones 1) and the “deafening vehicles” (Lugones 1) put the reader right in the middle of everything and transports them into the story. Lugones continues with this as he describes the day as “abundantly warm” (Lugones 1) and “with a perfect feel” (Lugones 1). It is easy to not only picture everything, but also feel everything going on because of the diction used.
  Lugones’ diction also alludes to foreshadowing later on in the story. The “abundantly warm day” (Lugones 1) is a foreshadow to the fire that consumes the city in the end. The abundance of heat described in the beginning is put to use at the end of the story as it is turned into flames and ashes that burns down the narrator’s city.
  Lugones’ diction also provides great irony to the story. He claims there was a “perfect feel” (Lugones 1) to the day, but as it turns out, his day ends up being ruined by the rain of fire. The diction used here is ironic as well as foreshadowing what is to come later on in the story.

•   Cailin // Sep 15th 2014 at 2:53 am

  Representative example: At the end of the story, the narrator is at peace with death and chooses suicide rather than waiting in the rain of fire.
  1. Poison will kill him quickly, and is okay with ending his life quickly.
  2. He is no longer fearful of what death will be like after seeing his whole town die.
  3. He knows his death will not be as traumatic as his neighbors’.
  4. He still takes advantage of his wealth in his final moments.
  5. He is completely absorbed in his suicide: “The cool water and the darkness gave me back the voluptuousness of my existence as a wealthy man…”
  6. Water is life-giving whereas fire destroys.
  7. He does not suffer in the copper rain.
  8. He still views himself above everyone else in his town simply by having a “luxurious” death, even better than the other survivor.
  9. Going outside and waiting in the fire rain would prolong his suffering- poison ends his life quickly.
  10. Parallels his life- never had to wait for anything since he had servants and slaves, now he doesn’t have to wait for death to come to him.

•   jimminkc // Sep 15th 2014 at 3:11 am

  The Story, “The Rain of Fire” is a representation of the 7 deadly sins focusing mainly on gluttony, pride, greed and laziness.

  1. Many times throughout the story he mentions his slaves. On page three, he talks about his slave reading to him, “meanwhile, my slave read”. This shows his laziness. He wouldn’t read himself but instead had people read to him.
  2. On page 2, he mentions his pride twice. He is aware of his lifestyle but he doesn’t do anything to change it.
  3. On page 3, he writes, “I could no longer expect anything other than gluttony from the amiable vices.”
  4. He has a lot of pride with in his library and dining room. He loves these two things but does no work in either. His food is cooked for him and they always read to him.
  5. The fact that he has slaves shows his gluttony. He doesn’t need all the slaves but he is wealthy so he can afford it.
  6. He watched everyone die at the end of the story and didn’t help anyone showing his laziness.
  7. At the end, his house was destroyed. We can infer that nothing came with him at the end. Even though he hid under the cellar his wealth couldn’t save him from death.
  8. His greed of having a big house could only protect him for so long until his sinful life ended. None of his wealth came with him when he died.
  9. He took his own life instead of letting himself die naturally from the storm. This shows his pride. He had to be in charge.
  10. “…and understanding that this new shower would consummate the ruin, I prepared myself for the end” page 13, at the he finally let go of his wealth and pride.

•   medinaeg // Sep 15th 2014 at 3:17 am

  “Submerged up to my neck, the joy of being clean and a sweet sense of domesticity completed the calming effect.” This quote sparked my interest, as it is one of the few occasions when the narrator feels a sense of connection with others.

  1) The narrator is “[unable] to understand eating with company ” (pg. 3). Having loneliness be his standard routine.
  2) His standard routine is “devoted to [his] gardens, to [his] fish…. not [having] enough time to go out”(pg. 3) and socialize with other. The only company the narrator has are slaves.
  3) In old times slaves were deemed lower than humans and were not equals. The narrator holds this view as it has been “ten years”(pg. 3) since he has had human contact though the slaves are with him at all times.
  4) His complete isolation occurs after waking up from sleep and searching around for someone, anyone but his “servants had all left” (pg. 7).
  5) He rarely goes out and when his guest leave the narrator is filled with happiness. In the story he never left his home, only thinking about crossing the lake or desert.
  6) Being alone he grew accustomed to the dark. Having “found [himself] in that friendly darkness” (pg. 10). Though in the end he took only two lamps down with him to the cellar for light and comfort.
  7) “Escaping!”(pg. 5). Finally having no other human connection with the entire city burned to pieces.
  8) Filled with “eternal solitude, [and] eternal silence”(pg. 13) having seen all the destruction. “Without a doubt, a unique spectacle” (pg. 8).
  9) Once he has contact with another human being he ignores the fact of being with someone else. He decides the end is near and “[brings] the flask to [his] lips, and…” (pg. 14).
  10) “The solitude was abosulte” (pg. 8).

•   chicasi // Sep 15th 2014 at 3:41 am

  “Notwithstanding the vague, alarming terror, I was able to say all these things to myself clearly, debating within myself, a bit debilitated, if truth be told,… something told me that the phenomenon would not go any further.”

  1) The narrator appears unsure about how he can handle the issue with the rain of fire.
  2) He only has himself to consult he is normally by himself.
  3) He wants to try to escape and live away from the copper rain.
  4) Being wealthy, his concern is for the safety of his property, which is his main reason to escape the city.
  5) He wants to understand why copper rain is occurring.
  6) At this point, he might understand but fear he may die by the copper rain.
  7) He realizes the city is getting quieter, as more living things die around him.
  8) “A bit debilitated” indicates how he realizes the impending doom over the city.
  9) He doesn’t seem concerned for others’ safety. However, seeing people die makes him want to escape danger in some way.
  10) He continuously comments on his home providing safety from the copper rain, which is probably why he didn’t realize an immediate danger.

•   Aden // Sep 15th 2014 at 4:14 am

  Topic: The narrator is disconnected to the world around him and has a grand and vivacious life, though it is only in his head.
  The narrator losses his appetite and eats for the benefits of the slaves. He is utterly unconnected to his world. His slaves most certainly do not care if he eats their food; it is all in his head.
  The fact that he eats not to demoralize people he owns is very ironic in itself. He worries about the feelings of people he has complete control over and whom are likely very fearful and or hateful toward him.
  The narrator feels his “libertine city” is the place for his “pleasures” take refuge. He then defines his pleasures are “scarce friends, brief visits” and his fish and birds. His pleasures could be housed anywhere. There is nothing “libertine” about them.
  When the town is finally partying and enjoying themselves, the man returns to his house early, “worn out” and takes “refuge in bed” ironically juxtaposing his previous phrase about his pleasures taking refuge.
  The man eats lunch because “it was midday” even though there were “frightful granules” falling. His detachment from the situation furthers the point that he is unaffected by his surroundings. He praises the lunch as “admirable” and rants on about his love of reading and eating.
  The narrator does not “understand eating with company” and his disassociation with the world and he seems to be somewhat anti-social. He abhors men and women “annoy” him. Only slaves reading him “geographic narratives” suits him.
  The amount of interaction the narrator has with slaves speaks to his detachment. He has them read and cook for him, keeping control of the situation and never allowing space for disagreement or another view point. He can have human interaction while being in charge all of the time.
  The narrator does not think of escaping the chaos for a good portion of the text. He is not fully mentally present in the situation and his fascination of the scene is almost like a dream to him. He slowly realizes he is in danger in the physical world.
  When the man does ponder escape, he is concerned with his fish that “had recently moved into a new pond” and his “gardens already ennobled in years.” He cannot put things into perspective or understand some things are more important than others.
  The narrator feels that the city burning is a “unique spectacle” and “certainly worth watching.” He is unable to comprehend the death and destruction taking place outside. He simply finds it amusing.

•   grandam // Sep 15th 2014 at 4:16 am

  “The sparks came from everywhere and from nowhere at once. It was immensity itself being torn invisibly into fire. The terrible copper was falling from the firmament—but the firmament remained impassibly blue” (4).

  The narrator is unnamed, adding emphasis to his surroundings instead of his character. The narrator could also be anyone which caused me to feel a greater connection with the events. This increased the feeling that “this could be me”.
  The words “everywhere” and “nowhere” are opposites, introducing conflict and uncertainty into the understanding of the piece. It is clear that the narrator doesn’t understand the falling copper any more than his audience. How is it possible for something to be both “everywhere” and “nowhere” at the same time?
  Images of the Big Bang and the beginning of all life are also prevalent in this short story. This quote is reminiscent of a star being born out of nothing in the words, “immensity itself being torn invisibly into fire”. This is an image of life and rebirth.
  However there are also images of death and destruction in the words “torn” and “terrible”. This casts a dark shadow over the excerpt making it seem far more ominous.
  The inclusion of fire and sparks is a symbol of both power and light. Power in that it is the flames which are tearing the heavens apart and light in that it is a new beginning; just as it takes a spark to start a fire.
  In the quote, invisibly is the anonymous. This is a theme that all people struggle with- the fear of the unknown. This left me wondering how something so important and truly Earth-shattering was done invisibly and how we don’t know so much about our world.
  The falling “copper” could be a metaphor for falling stars. This is a majestic event and one that seems at odds with the negativity of the author’s words.
  Another comparison that was made was that of the “copper” and the blue skies. These two images work off of each other as each becomes stronger in the context of the other, opposite image. The blue skies are clear and bright while the falling copper is dark and dangerous.
  In this story the vast unknown is the skies. This added aspect of the unknown adds to the intrigue and secretiveness of the story.
  “Impassibly” shows the great differences between the mortal author and the immortal heavens. The heavens have the ability to hurt him while he is only able to stare up in wonder. This power relationship further heightens the events of before as what is usually referred to as a passive thing now has the power to overwhelm the earth.

•   Kienan // Sep 15th 2014 at 5:24 am

  “The terrible copper was falling from the firmament-but the firmament remained impassibly blue. A strange distress began slowly to come over me; but there was something strange: until then I had not thought about escaping. Escaping! And my table, my books, my birds, my fish that had just recently moved into a new pond, my gardens already ennobled in their years, my fifty years of serenity, in the good fortune of today, in the carelessness of tomorrow…?”

  1. “…escaping. Escaping!” It seems as the narrator wants to escape from the routine that they are stuck in; the routine of the lavish life and the things, the possessions that they have that they hold so close. This is the start of their rebellion from the life they made for themselves. The repetition of the word “escaping” shows the importance of this concept to the narrator.
  2. The fish. The narrator talks about the fish and how they have a new pond, and how they are simply fish but they have new and updated environments and surroundings. Their updated surroundings are what it seems the narrator wants when they talk about their idea of escaping. From escaping their life and getting a new surrounding
  3. There is a classic cheesy pick up line. “Did it hurt…when you fell from heaven?” The idea behind the statement is saying that the person is an angel or god/goddess. However, in the line “The terrible copper was falling from the firmament…”, does not represent pieces of heaven falling to earth, it is showing pieces of pain and “terrible copper”.
  4. Later in that sentence, it states “…but the firmament remained impassibly blue.” Usually during rain, the sky is filled with clouds. The copper rain in this instance may represent the heavens getting rid of the bad and evil that does not belong. For example, in the book of Isaiah 14:12, the Bible says “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!” (ESV) This verse is referring to Lucifer, an angel who started a revolt against the Lord and tried to take control of heaven. He was struck down and sent to the earth along with the others who tried to revolt. The came to earth and created havoc, damaging people in the process and pulling them down with them. The copper falling from the heavens, that is piercing the backs of servants, could be the angels falling from heaven after being sent down by God.
  5. Expanding on the last point, there is a distress that comes over the narrator when he realizes what is falling from the sky. People tend to be gloomy and sad on rainy days when there is a cloud cover, however there is no cloud cover here. It is just rain. The narrator starts reflecting and getting ideas of their life and that is perhaps caused by the rain.
  6. The copper represents pennies falling from the sky. It is a type of provision as is the manna from the sky in the Bible while the Israelites were waiting in the desert to enter into the Promised Land for 40 years. They were given manna from the sky by God in order to allow the entire tribe to survive the generation.
  7. Once again, expanding on the previous point, the narrator talks about escaping. Several times in the Bible there is doubt by the Isrealites in their faith that God would continue to provide the manna and if they were ever going to “escape” the desert. In this same manner, the narrator is seeking to escape the “manna” or the copper rain.
  8. “…my fifty years of serenity…”. The narrator, I am assuming, is fifty years old and has lived the comfortable life their entire life.
  9. “…my fifty years of serenity, in the good fortune of today…” The narrator is talking about the luck they have received in being given the life they have and not having to work for it.
  10. Lastly, the narrator says “…in the carelessness of tomorrow…?” They know they live a comfortable life and they can be as reckless as they want.

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