Lessons Learned by the Main Character in “And of Clay Are We Created” Story

Introduction 

“ And of Clay Are We Created” is a short story written by Isabel Allende from her anthology “The Stories of Eva Luna” of 1989. This is a fictional story, however, it is based on a real event of volcanic eruption that happened in Colombia in 1985. The story features Azucena and Rolf Carle, who makes all attempts to save the victim (Azucena) from the volcanic eruption and as such, Rolf is featured as the main character in the story. This story, just like any other short story has some lessons that main the character learned. On this background, this paper focuses on discussing lessons learned by the main character (Rolf) and how this help to shape the plot of the story. The first part will address the description of the main character, Rolf Carle, while the second section will discourse on the lessons that he learned. 

The narrator of the story describes Rolf Carle as a reporter who is dedicated and is among the first few who reached Azucena’s tragic scene after the volcanic eruption. He tries all he can to rescue Azucena and even invested his emotions for his love for the girl to stay with her for the two nights and three days, risking his own well-being in the dangerous surrounding to report on her condition (Allende, 1989). His role of being an uplifting person is also evident when he encourages the girl and eases her mind through storytelling to ease her pain and keep up her strength. As such, because of the big role Rolf play in the story, he was able to learn some lessons that emerged to be significant in his life. 

First, the story helped Rolf Carle to learn how to confront the pain of his past (pain of his childhood experiences) through being courageous enough to confront the reality of the death of Azucena, and as a result, this gave him the path to his healing process. This is true because by watching Azucena trapped in the mad, Rolf had hopes that he could somehow save the girl and for that, he never left her alone. Through the rescue mission, as Carle attempts to keep his spirit strong for the rescue efforts, he begins to remember his past that was still haunting him and he starts to see himself trapped like Azucena in his own past memories. 

In the end, after a long watch of Azucena struggles, both Carle and Azucena come to terms with the inevitable death of Azucena; no one is trying to make efforts of helping by availing the pump and there is nothing that Rolf could do by himself anymore. Carle became vulnerable and gives in to grief. Rolf’s knowledge and acceptance of the fact that there is nothing he can do about Azucena’s situation make him to attain an inner peace. Rolf gives up the fight and surrenders to watch Azucena die. While he admits hurting over his inability to offer help, he accepts the fate. Rolf silently prays for the quick death of Azucena so that she can avoid prolonged pain (Allende, 1989). Rolf’s life changes completely when he finally accepts Azucena’s death. From this moment, he sets his camera aside and begins to see things more clearly. Just like the holes on the ground covered by mud, Rolf hopes that, his wounds would finally heal with time. Rolf learns that it takes patience and time to heal not only physically but also emotionally (Allende, 1989). Rolf’s ability to accept Azucena’s death is significant in the play as it builds up the story and contributes to the progression of the story. Further, this is the point in which the readers find the rising action and the climax of the story. 

Secondly, Rolf Carle also learned that tragedies, like one which Azucena was trapped in confront people with their own fragility, meaning that human beings are created of clay, a substance which is fragile and breakable, even though most time people try to live their lives as if they are stronger and unbreakable, just like himself and Azucena. As the narrator points out, Rolf comes face to face with the truth that he cannot escape his past. He recognizes that humans are made of clay and that while often people fail to recognize this truth, it finally comes to light during death. 

Conclusion 

Just like in each of the short stories, “And of Clay Are We Created” story helped the main character, Rolf Carle to learn lessons that helped to change his life for the better by accepting his past memories and starting a journey of healing his old wounds. Maybe without the story, Carle would never have gotten the opportunity of reconciling with the past childhood memories that were still haunting him. Thus, these lessons are deemed important in each of these stories. The lessons learned by Rolf at every moment of the story are significant in building the rising action and developing the climax of the story. Further, the lessons also help in building the character Rolf as the lead character. When both Rolf and Azucena accept Azucena’s death, the narrator indicates that both of them get saved from despair. 

Reference 

Allende, I. (1989). And of Clay Are We Created.  Short Fiction: Classic and Contemporary .