The House Taken Over By Julio Cortazar

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House Taken Over House Taken Over is a short story written by Julio Cortazar. Set in Buenos Aires and tells the story of a brother and his sister, Irene, who live and care for their large family home. They spend their days cleaning and then doing what makes them happy. Irene knits all day and the brother spends his time watching her knit or reading. The two of them live alone in the big house, until one night the brother hears noises from the back part of the house and he understands that part of the house is being "taken over.” So, he shuts the large oak doors and locks up that part of the house. It’s never said exactly what has “taken over” the house. In fact, nothing is said about what “they” are or even why “they” are so dangerous. All we know about “them” is that when they “take over” there is nothing …show more content…

The way these events occur, to a normal person it would seem strange, and almost fantastical in nature. However, the brother and Irene seem to think this is normal. They are not afraid by what is going on, and the “things” on the other side of the door seem in no hurry to get to their side. It’s not even mentioned that “they” make sounds beyond when they move from one section of the house to the next. In fact, the house is described as being so quite that the brother and sister can hear each other breathing at night, despite there being a living room between them. Throughout the entire short story, we see Irene and her brother never question or talk about what is going on, they simply accept it. Julio Cortazar writes a short simple story, that leaves us with more questions than answers. At no point does the narrator even attempts to explain what has happened, or what is

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