Chapter Notes. Talking in Whispers

Transcription

1 Chapter Notes N.B. Aside from the main storyline concerned with what happens to Andres, there are many isolated snapshots of life in Chile, mainly at the beginning of certain chapters. These reinforce the experiences of the characters and allow readers to experience everyday occurrences which threaten Chileans, reminding us of their reality. The torture scene, however, uses a different style; not detachment from narrative and character, but rather involvement with Andres thoughts, feelings and pain, in order to heighten the sense of horror. Chapter One Opens with speech of Silver Lion to masses at National Stadium in Santiago, of hope, freedom and joy. Car containing Juan, Andres and Horacio shot at by security. Horacio killed, Juan taken away. Andres escapes and is picked up by Isa and Beto, who share their food with Andres. It is election day. A road block stops the van and I, B & A learn of assassination of Silver Lion, obviously assassinated. Isa decides Andres will return home with them. On the way, they encounter fighting between the Resistance and the Authorities but miraculously escape notice. Chapter Two Opens with description of N.S. and imprisonment. Andres wakes up from a nightmare about his mother s death. The twins realise Andres true identity from a newspaper report about accidental deaths of Juan and Horacio in car crash. The twins reveal the disappearance of their parents. Andres sets off for the city to tell Horacio s family and friends of his murder but his house is deserted, as is Braulio s; all occupants have been forcibly removed. On the way, Andres witnesses the brutal shooting of a youth (p. 32) and feels overwhelmed (p. 33). As he searches the city fruitlessly, he realises fully the danger he is in as a fugitive from the law; the sight of a proud old Arucanian Indian lifts his spirits. After visiting Juan s publisher s offices, Andres recalls how his father was once before arrested and decides to go to the National Stadium where all prisoners are taken. Here he glimpses Braulio and meets Don Chailey for the first and last time. Chailey gives Andres his camera, the contents of which will prove to be more valuable than bullets. Talking in Whispers copyright James Watson Page 1 of doc

2 Chapter Three Andres knows he should return to his new friends but is drawn to his old home. He finds it looted; books and possessions burned by the authorities. An old man who speaks out is taken away (p ) Back at Isa and Beto s the situation seems to be worsening; Beto s place of work, the laundry, has been burned down and Isa s school has been closed. That night, the three of them go to Diego s to develop the film in the camera. The photographs are more spectacular than they hoped; amongst other brutal images is the assassination of the Silver Lion! After testing their resolve, Diego hatches a plan to broadcast the photos and expose the gov t. Chapter Four Opens with description of National Stadium, precipice image (p ) Three days after the visit to Diego, at 12 midday, Andres is at Central Station in Santiago disguised as a porter. Diego s friends have brought parts of the printing press to different lockers at the station, dropping keys into Isa s hat as she gives a puppet show. Despite the problem of an insistent woman, Andres manages to retrieve the various parts of the press and meet Isa and Beto in the van outside but they are tailed and decide to split up. On his way home, Andres falls into a disused quarry and witnesses a mass execution. Chapter Five A major turning point in Andres character occurs here. As he collects the effects of the murdered, he oscillates between fear and resolve, finally realising he has a responsibility to the dead, to bring their murder to light and to bring peace of mind to their loved ones. Andres becomes a man - Adios little boy! (p. 73) - who decides to report the dead, for no one else on earth will. (p. 76) Meanwhile at home, Isa and Beto read that Santiago is to be placed on alert and that a clampdown will ensue. Isa now regrets her advice to Andres that he should seek shelter with Father Mariano as he is now strongly suspected of harbouring fugitives. (p ) But her fears are realised and Andres goes to Mariano where he is woken at five in the morning in a dawn raid. The authorities are looking for Resistance leader Hernando Salas who is hidden at the Seminary. Andres manages to get over a wall but is soon captured. (p ) Chapter Six Description of arrests in Santiago. (p. 87) Isa has a nightmare about Andres arrest. She senses he is in danger. She tells Beto they have a copy of the photos hidden in the van and wil use them. Beto feels left out by the closeness that has developed between Isa and Beto. (p ) Talking in Whispers copyright James Watson Page 2 of doc

3 Andres is tortured (p ) in The House Of Laughter. Isa goes to the Seminary to collect Andres but as she feared he has been taken. (p. 99) She gathers up the items he took from the dead at the quarry, vowing to make all these things talk. (p. 100) Back to Andres torture (p ) Chapter Six ends with preparation for electric shocks. His time had come. (p. 102) Chapter Seven At a press conference in Santiago, an American reporter called Jack Normanton asks about Don Chailey s disappearance. At this point the press conference is closed. (p ) Back to the torture scene (p. 104) Isa phones Normanton to meet about the photos (p ) Back to the torture scene (p ) Isa meets Normanton and they celebrate the potential of the photos. He agrees to help her to find Andres. (p )On p. 112 is further description of Andres torture. Back at home, Andres again reassures Beto who has become a little jealous of their partner Andres. Andres is left for dead. (p ) Andres is saved by Francisco, a farmer and his young daughter, Rosa. Francisco s son was murdered by the authorities and he is delighted to help Andres especially when he learns of his identity. Chapter Eight Description of arrests. (p. 120) Andres is still delirious from his ordeal as he hides in the back of Francisco s van. By chance, they come across Isa and Beto giving a puppet show in the market place at san Miguel in the suburbs of Santiago. Helped by Francisco and Rosa, the three are reunited and rejoice in Andres homecoming. Epilogue A happy mood, similar to that at the beginning of the novel one week earlier, fills the National Stadium. It is hard to believe that a football match can so totally transform the scene of so much suffering and death - No sign, no evidence (p ) As the leaflets are distributed by Andres and his friends, the rest of the world reads about the assassination and brutality on the front pages of their newspapers Talking in Whispers copyright James Watson Page 3 of doc

4 Summary of Events 1. Saturday The Silver Lion speaks at election rally in Santiago. Andres friend Horacio killed and Andres father Juan arrested. Andres escapes security men and meets Isa and Beto for the first time. 2. Sunday Andres hides out with Isa and Beto. He goes to the National Stadium where prisoners are taken. He meets Don Chailey and gets the camera. He visits his old home in the Via Rivadivia. He goes home to Isa and Beto. He visits Diego Rosales printing works. 3. Monday 4. Tuesday Waiting to hear from Diego. 5. Wednesday 6. Thursday At Santiago station Andres collects printing press parts. He escapes the security men and hides in the woods. He witnesses executions. He examines the bodies and takes anything which might identify the dead. He goes to Father Mariano at the Seminary. 7. Friday Andres is arrested at the Seminary and taken to the House of Laughter. He is tortured. Isa drives out to the Seminary and learns of Andres arrest. She collects evidence about the shooting of Don Chailey and other prisoners Page 4 of doc

5 Practice Exam Questions TIER H 1. How does the author portray the city of Santiago and its surroundings during the coup? You should write about some of the many places which Andres visits at different times throughout the novel, and consider: settings where important events occur how you respond to the various places description which you found vivid and memorable Remember to refer to details in the novel. 2. Refresh your memory of the second half of Chapter Two, from No answer. Not someone. Not anyone, to the end of the chapter. Write in detail about this section. What various responses to the violence of the military coup are shown in it, and how does it suggest there will be a more hopeful ending? You should include the following in your answer: violent events here, and different people s responses to them the work of Don Chailey 3. Andres survives many dangers in the course of the novel. How does he manage to survive? some of the dangers and difficulties that he has to survive the people who help him to survive how Andres s character helps him to survive how the writer presents Andres as a survivor 4. What does Andres learn about himself and about society in the course of the novel? 5. There are many times in the text when Andres is in danger. Choose two or three such incidents and answer both parts of the question. (a) Explain the dangers which face Andres in each of your chosen episodes. (b) Write about the ways in which the writer builds up a sense of suspense, fear and excitement in these episodes Page 5 of doc

6 6. Write about the ways you think the puppets and marionettes are important in the novel. 7. Explain how three characters in the novel deal with conflict. Make clear what kind of war they think they are fighting and examine the ways they go about fighting it. 8. The writer s introduction mentions the importance of the rule of justice. Write about justice in the novel. people who fight for justice, and how they do it people who undermine the rule of justice, and how they do it how the writer makes the reader think about justice how you feel about justice and injustice in the novel. 9. Show how Watson brings out the conflict between democracy on the one hand and rule by the force of arms on the other. 10. Write about the last two pages of the Epilogue, from When the home team go one down to the end. How is this a good ending to the novel? what happens in this passage the relationships between Andres and the other people how the problems in the novel are sorted out here how the writer makes connections between this passage and the rest of the novel. 11. Show how friendship plays an important part in the novel. situations in which friends help each other the way friendships develop in the novel how friendship is important in the political struggle how the writer shows the importance of friendship Page 6 of doc