Hypermasculinity In The House Of The Spirits

Hypermasculinity is the psychological term for the exaggeration of male stereotypical behavior such as an emphasis on physical strength, aggression and sexuality. In novels such as The House Of The Spirits, through the use of characters, Isabel Allende depicts political and social issues like this with characters such as Esteban Trueba. He embodies this to the point of toxicity and takes toll on character and plot development.

Sexuality, strength and the power of Esteban play a pivotal role in The House Of The Spirits. Pancha Garcia’s rape is a key example of this. Without warning, Esteban “attacked her savagely, thrusting himself into her without preamble, with unnecessary brutality” (Allende 57). Esteban views his servants as tools for