Carlos Fuentes' Aura and myths about wormen - Essay Example

Carlos Fuentes ‘Aura’ and Myths about Women The relationship between Consuelo/Aura is referred to as the demolition of machismo by Carlos Fuentes in his novel Aura. The novel revolves around the time spent by the protagonist in Consuelo’s house where he was hired to reconstruct the memoirs of her deceased husband General Llorante. Filipe Montero is perplexed by the nature of his assignment in the sense that the contents of the generals memoirs seemed to contradict time and its essence. Montero’s relationship with Aura, who is Consuelo’s niece, is the focus of the author’s plot in the story, which he uses to channel his ideas on the role of feminism and masculinity.

The late general’s journals reveal a curiosity that drives the plot of the story to its conclusion, which is also the cause for concern on Montero’s part with respect to the true nature and being of Consuelo/Aura. The notion that Carlos Fuentes is inverting a number of literary texts in his book Aura to illustrate instances when young men use or exploit their relationships with younger women in order to gather information about older women is a misunderstanding of the book. Taking a careful look at the themes presented in the novel, it can be construed that men or the man in this instance is the victim (Bencomo et. al. 703).

This is despite the observation that Montero courts Aura in order to gain a more insightful understanding of his tasks in their household. This can be assumed to be the reason behind the postulate that Montero or men generally use or exploit women to achieve their goals and/or achievements. The demolition of machismo, on the other hand, is best illustrated by how Montero is used by Aura or Consuelo to achieve their goal of maintaining their youth. Through Aura, Montero discerns the true nature of his employer, whose secret is revealed through Aura’s demeanor.

Montero is used and exploited by Consuelo through Aura, who appears to use magic in order to manipulate Montero, who eventually seems to transform into General Llorante. Montero is exploited from the start of the book’s plot as exemplified by the newspaper advertisement, which according to the protagonist seems to have been directed at him by virtue of its requirements. It is apparent from the author’s insinuation that the job advertisement was only meant for him since it seems like no other person applied or qualified for the job until he was employed.

Montero’s employer is said to have portrayed a sense of mysticism, which if viewed from a feminist point of view, illustrates female empowerment and need for control. Consuelo’s insistence on having Montero resides at her residence as he works on the project is exemplary of feminists need for control (Bencomo et. al. 717). The ability to control men and usurp their position and role in society can be construed to be the ultimate feminists’ goal. Consuelo/Aura achieve total control over Montero to extent of distorting his sense of time and self as illustrated by his refusal to acknowledge the time on his watch.

The assumption that Carlos Fuentes is inverting a number of literary texts to illustrate instances where men manipulate, use and exploit young women in order to gather information on older women is false. This is in the sense that what begins out as Montero’s exploitation of Aura, ends being the reverse where he is used to achieve Consuelo’s goal. The relationship between Consuelo/Aura and Montero is demonstrative of demolition of machismo. Work CitedBencomo, Anadeli, et al. "Carlos Fuentes: A Tribute.

" PMLA 128.3 (2013): 698-727. Print.