AURA
Aura
A haunting masterpiece of magical realism and gothic shadows
Published in 1962, Aura is one of the most influential works of Carlos Fuentes and a cornerstone of the Latin American "Boom." This short but intense novella is written entirely in the second person ("You"), a narrative choice that immediately draws the reader into its claustrophobic and dreamlike atmosphere, blurring the lines between the reader and the protagonist.
The story follows Felipe Montero, a young historian who accepts a job in a decaying mansion in Mexico City. His task is to organize and complete the memoirs of a deceased general, commissioned by the general’s widow, Consuelo. However, the true center of Felipe's fascination becomes Aura, Consuelo’s mysterious and ethereal niece. As Felipe falls deeper into an obsession with Aura, he begins to realize that the inhabitants of the house are bound by a supernatural connection that defies time and identity.
Fuentes masterfully uses the setting—a house where the lights are never turned on and the smell of ancient herbs lingers—to explore themes of eternal return, youth, and the ritualistic nature of love. Aura is a sensory experience where the past and present merge, leading to a shocking revelation about the nature of the self.
Artistic Reflection
Aura is deeply rooted in the concept of the "double." Through the use of mirrors and the uncanny resemblance between the young Aura and the old Consuelo, Fuentes questions the linear nature of time. The house itself acts as a dark womb where the laws of the outside world no longer apply.
The prose is lush and evocative, emphasizing the tactile and the olfactory to build a sense of dread and enchantment. It remains a profound meditation on the human desire to conquer death through desire and memory.