Week 2- Free Response

Eliza amazes me. She decides to travel to California looking for Joaquin. She leaves with only a suitcase full of a dress, love letters from Joaquin, jewels that were saved for her dowry, and some cash. Eliza abandons the family that took her in as a baby and she leaves Mama Fresia. I can't imagine leaving all that you know and are accustomed to just to find your love. I don't think Eliza realizes how much Mama Fresia and perhaps even the Sommers love her. She thinks first of her love for Joaquin before thinking about how much she will be missed and how important she is to others in Chile. Mind you, I don't believe Eliza is selfish, just blinded. She can't see beyond Joaquin. He becomes her life and when he leaves so does her reason to live.

Although I understand Eliza's need to follow Joaquin and regain her life. I just can't imagine myself taking on such a risky mission. I would consider others while making my decision to go to California. I would think about how much my family would miss me and really how much I would miss them. Although Eliza can probably get on without Jeremy and John Sommers, she does have a special connection with both Rose and Mama Fresia. Sometimes Rose isn't the best mother figure, but she did raise Eliza from a baby. Eliza must love her for all of the effort Rose put into her. When Rose wasn't around, Mama Fresia brought up Eliza. They share an especially strong bond. Mama Fresia is her protector and confidante. When Eliza gets pregnant she tells only Mama Fresia and when she decides to go to California she only tells Mama Fresia. How can Eliza forget so many important people in her life to chase just one?

Maybe I just don't have anyone I feel so strongly about as Eliza cares for Joaquin so I can't relate. However, I don't know if such love even exists. It's often written about, but hardly ever does one hear about love in reality that compares to the love in books. I don't know. Perhaps I just haven't lived long enough to see true love, but I do hope that I am proved wrong and love like that of books is in our world.