Two Words

Isabel Allende uses irony in the story to create a humorous effect or emphasize a theme by conveying an idea in a way that is intentionally contradictory. For example, the protagonist is a wordsmith, storyteller, and seller of words with an unlimited vocabulary. She is also capable of inventing new words, and she begins her journey toward mastery of language by learning every word of the dictionary, an impossible task. However, when she is finished, she tosses it into the water, claiming that she refuses to cheat her customers by selling them words she copied from a book. Despite words’ being plentiful and freely available to all, the narrator claims that Belisa had no name because her parents were too poor to provide one.

Allende uses the recurring metaphor of the journey to represent change, growth, and self-determination. The initial treacherous journey Belisa makes to escape the harsh conditions and almost inevitable tragedy of her home is a metaphor for renewal and the effort to take control of one’s life. At the end of this perilous journey, Belisa finds new life when she discovers the Power of Words.