Simple Marie By Isabel Linde Analysis

When noticing a person who wears a similar clothes everyday, one may wonder what their intentions behind their attire is. In Isabel Allende’s story “Simple Marie” featured in The Stories of Eva Luna, the clothes are taken in a figurative sense just as much as in a literal function. Just as clothes are made to cover up one's physical body, clothes can be interpreted as a covering of one’s soul and true identity. Although, not very evident on the surface of the story, one can discover the intentions of Maria, by correlating the situation to her attire. The symbolism that Allende creates within the clothing of Maria illustrates a deeper sense to her vulnerability and reasoning within the situations of her life.
The colors and styles of Maria’s attire reveal her reasoning and mindset through the diverse situations she faces in her life. In the beginning of the story, while the narrator describes Maria being struck by the train, Eva Luna states, “She was picked up from between the rails, seemingly unharmed, she had only a few scratches and had lost her hat” (Allende 154). The representation of losing her hat can be interpreted as Maria losing her head or losing her mind, which further reveals the imagery that although she looks fine on the outside her mind is permanently deficient. Allende uses this

When presented with a strange story with uncertain reasoning behind several actions of the characters, and in this story, it is revealed through the symbolism of their attire. Understanding that clothing symbolizes a false identity and an open heart and open love is the taking off of clothes gives a second story behind her reasoning for this story. Although clothing might not be a common symbol for fake identities versus true beings, almost all love stories have a symbolism to represent the open trustful