The Shrouded Woman by Bombal: All Is Said & Done

First off, I applaud Bombal for fabricating such a unique novel. I have never come across a novel from the perspective of the deceased, but am very intrigued by how it offers opportunity for deep reflection. In the novel I read last week (Nadja), the author (Breton) is constantly grappling with change - should he change himself, should he hold onto his existing lifestyle? In contrast, as Ana Maria recounts her life, she does so purely in a reflective sense: she is not battling reality, but accepting it.

The theme that stood out to me most prominently throughout this novel was the "looks-based" challenges associated with womanhood. Throughout Ana Maria's story, women are consistently depicted as infatuated with being beautiful. Maria Griselda's character best represents this intense beauty that women are expected to emulate. But this begs the question: is this beauty truly an asset? Perhaps it is more of a liability... women who have it are reduced to it (Maria Griselda), and women who do not have it kill themselves for it (Silvia)! 

Unfortunately, I find that in today's modern world, the concept of beauty continues to influence how women navigate their lives. As mentioned above, I think that beauty can be both an "asset" and a "liability". For example, the concept of "pretty privilege" continues to pervade society, with women who are considered "attractive" receiving more favourable outcomes from those around them (kindness, preferential treatment, free goods). On the other hand, beauty can confine women to their physical appearances. For instance, women are often told not to dress "too girly" for job interviews - not to wear skirts, unconventional suits, or too much makeup - in order to not be viewed as a "fashionista" with limited intellectual capabilities.

The second theme that stood out to me was the idea that despite feeling overlooked throughout your life, you are very valued. Ana Maria did not realize how many people she touched in her life. For example, her first love Ricardo, who abandoned her and blamed her for her pregnancy, shows up for her funeral. It is then that she realizes her importance to him despite his cold actions. This whole concept of not realizing your value until you are gone reminded me of a film I watched during Christmas: It's a Wonderful Life (highly suggest watching, wish I could delve into the plot here but I’m almost at word count).

While I am dedicated to fulfilling my theme of adding photographs to accompany each blog post, I must admit that finding a photo to encapsulate Ana Maria's life has proved very difficult. She lived so many eras, encountered diverse emotions, and was part of various relationships. Eventually, the photo I decided on is one of a woman gazing down at her reflection in a calm lake. I chose this image because I believe it captures the nature of Ana Maria’s story - the stillness of the water suggests that all has been said and done, leaving her with nothing but the act of reflection itself.

Question: Is beauty an asset, a liability, or both?