–What do you think the significance of Allende’s title is? What does it mean to be made of clay? –
-What happens to Rolf in his encounter with Azucena?
–Why do you think Azucena becomes a symbol of the tragedy that is unfolding in the story?
–What did you make of the President’s visit to the site of the disaster? What kind of commentary is Allende making here?
–How can you connect this story with your own experiences of natural or other disasters? Are there elements of the story that you can relate to? How?
What do you think the significance of Allende’s title is? What does it mean to be made of clay?
The significance of Allende’s title is to show how we are each made great individually. There is a reference in the bible, “You are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter”. Rolfe went through a spiritual awakening from his past life while trying to save Azucena. Together, the clay formed what he was searching for his entire life and in Azucena’s death, the “clay of love” was molded into her for the first time.
Hi Gregory, I like your response and think that it is an interesting take on the story. I wasn’t sure exactly of the clay reference but I thought that it had something to do with the fact that Azucena is stuck in the muddy pit.
Why do you think Azucena becomes a symbol of the tragedy that is unfolding in the story?
I think that Azucena become the symbol of the tragedy that is unfolding because she is a child and because she is still alive. First of all, her being a child is a great way for the news outlets to spread the story and get people to read as people would be more likely to be emotional if they see a child in trouble rather than an adult. Secondly, she is still alive and is fighting to get out of the mud pit, which builds up interest and will get more people involved with the news as they follow the story to see if she makes it or not. In addition, it might also be because of the fact that she at first was willing to respond to questions and thus allow the news reporters to generate more material. Overall, I think that she became the symbol of this disaster because her image and story resonated with many people.
How can you connect this story with your own experiences of natural or other disasters? Are there elements of the story that you can relate to? How?
I don’t have a personal connection with a disaster, but my family went through a lot on 9/11. My grandpa’s sister was in one of the towers, and each year I hear my mom’s story of that day. My great aunt was amazingly able to escape because a stranger helped her get out from the rubble she was trapped under in the library. The man, who she never saw again, helped her get down all the stairs and she got out of the building just before it began to collapse. My mom and the rest of my family were panicking trying to find her, and some of them were waiting at the Brooklyn Bridge just in case she showed up there. My mom went to pick up my great aunt’s two daughters from school, because she didn’t want them to hear the news while there. My great aunt got a ride back to her house in Queens. My family didn’t even realize she had gotten home because nobody was there at the time. She was completely covered in soot, and only began to cry when my family got there and she was able to realize that she was safe. My great aunt had gotten cancer after that, beaten it, and recently it came back. I wasn’t born when the tragic events of 9/11 happened but it has affected me and my family tremendously. I can’t even imagine watching it all happen on the news, in real time.
I can relate to the final paragraph of the text, where the narrator discusses how Rolf has changed from the person he was before he connected with Azucena. The narrator wasn’t there with Rolf, but was following the events as they were happening. Now, Rolf has been permanently affected from what he has experienced, and the narrator can not do much to help him. I relate to this because all I can do is listen to what happened to my family in the past. I’m not able to make everything better for them.
–How can you connect this story with your own experiences of natural or other disasters? Are there elements of the story that you can relate to? How?
My grandmother lives in Puerto Rico, and when Hurricane Maria hit years ago I was worried for her. There was flooding everywhere and no power, so it was hard to get in contact with her when the hurricane passed by. Days before, I would hear my mom telling her to prepare extensively, as the weather experts were predicting for it to be a major one. I could relate to this story about the anxiousness about wanting to hear from your relatives and get things back to normal as soon as possible. I also didn’t realize how much damage the hurricane did until I seen pictures and videos of it on the news.
What did you make of the President’s visit to the site of the disaster? What kind of commentary is Allende making here?
I saw the President’s visit to the site of the disaster as a show of face. When he shows up to the site he is sure to be in view of any cameras in the vicinity; he also makes it see like he is actively trying to help and that a hero has shown up to save the day. That is why the commentary Allende provides is important; she exposes him as all talk and no action. In the text, it states,” The President of the Republic visited the area in his tailored safari jacket to confirm that this was the worst catastrophe of the century.” I think this part of the text showcases how he shows up in his fancy outfit and points out the obvious that it’s a catastrophe, like everybody hasn’t noticed already. The president also tells Rolf that he would personally attend to the matter of obtaining the pump to get her out; but we hear of Rolf’s partner getting in touch with a general who would deliver the pump before we hear of the President taking any action.
What did you make of the President’s visit to the site of the disaster? What kind of commentary is Allende making here?
In “And of clay we are created” by Lsabel Allende, my own interpretation of the president coming to visit Azucena makes me think that showing face is more important than actually helping in a time of disaster. The President had everything in his power to bring the materials needed to get her out of the mudd yet he took himself on the helicopter to take a few pictures and talk to the news agencies to speak on how tragic this issue is. Allende critiques how people in power truly care about showing face to the helpless, the belief that they are helping by just being there in fact does nothing but harm. This anecdote can still be seen today with national tragedies all over while our leaders and the leaders of the world do nothing but talk about their sympathies while people suffer. I think that we all know Pezenas death could have been avoided if people did not care about showing face and actually stood behind the lines and used their resources to save her.
–Why do you think Azucena becomes a symbol of the tragedy that is unfolding in the story?
I think that Azucena is an innocent girl who everyone believed should not have been in her situation. When she is stuck in the mud with her two siblings pulling her down there is nothing she can do but wait for help. However, as time progresses we see that an attempt to save her with a helicopter fails because there are no helicopters available. Then all the news reports begin to cover the story and it is as if they are unconscious to the fact that this girl is going to get buried alive in the mud. Furthermore, the president who supposedly flew in on a helicopter is not willing to send that same helicopter to save the girl. Rather he uses this as a chance for publicity stunt and to allow the people of the town to understand he is with them. Azucena is used as a symbol of tragedy to the horrific event that happened that day, but also to the dehumanizing agendas of the media.
What happens to Rolf in his encounter with Azucena?
Rolf main attempt was to help Azucena from this tragedy she was placed in. Rolf was seen as a brave courageous man willing to put himself in the face of danger in an effort to capture what was necessary on camera for the viewers to see. Rolf attempted to free Azucena from the entrapment but couldn’t, he instead stays with her to comfort her for the new couple of days, waiting for help to arrive in which never did. Instead of being the person saving Azucena, it was Azucena who saved Rolf by finally letting out his troubles he had within him all his life. He unmasked his troubles he carried since childhood.