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1
How ironic is the influence of secrecy in the book 'The Vine Leaf' by Maria Cristina Mena?
Dr. Malsufrido is surprised when he attends to a secretive wealthy woman who wants the stain on her back be removed. The woman hides her face, but her clothes reveal that she is from a powerful and wealthy family. The woman asks the Doctor to keep everything a secret. After attending to the woman, the Doctor knows something about her which nobody else knows. The reader is surprised that the Doctor does not brag about knowing confidential secrets. However, the Doctor is keen not to let the cat out of the bag because he does not know how powerful the client might be. Therefore, this book's power of secrecy is ironic because the secret holder decides to use it for his fame.
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2
How does the author tackle the complexity of gender roles in society?
Marquesa is conducting her secrecy affairs because society demands her to follow specific procedures, which she is not comfortable with. For instance, society does not expect a woman to alter her body for any reason. When she sees the Doctor to remove her blemish, Marquesa directs the Doctor to keep the whole issue as a top-secret. Similarly, a woman is not expected to use her beauty to lure men, but Marquesa goes against this norm. Every man is after her, and her seductive capabilities make her very powerful before men. The life of Marquesa depicts the difficult situation women are subjected to in society because they have no freedom to do whatever they want openly.
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3
How does the author use the character, Marquesa to develop the imagery of seduction?
The Doctor comes across a portrait of a naked woman who resembles the client he attended five years ago. The woman in the portrait is holding a flower, which she twists towards her hair. The Doctor knows without a doubt that the woman in the portrait is Marquesa. Marquesa is lovely, and the Dr. remembers that he never demanded any payment after removing her blemish. Consequently, the description of Marquesa depicts the sense of sight to readers.
The Vine Leaf Essay Questions
by Maria Cristina Mena
Essay Questions
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