Two Words

In the short story “Two Words,” Isabel Allende explores how destiny can be shaped and lives can be changed by the Power of Words. Through the lens of the characters and their experiences, she examines the transformative power of language to create opportunities for freedom and independence.

The omniscient third-person narrator weaves elements of mystery and magic into the story of a young woman who escapes a life of poverty and servitude, overcomes great adversity, and takes control of her destiny when she discovers the power of words. Having grown up in poverty in an inhospitable environment in which her siblings die, the protagonist, Belisa Crepusculario, discovers that words are a means of escape, and language has the power to alter her fate.

Allende uses the recurring motif of journeys to represent change, growth, and transition. At the outset, Belisa survives a perilous journey. The rugged terrain and harsh conditions that she overcomes signify the perseverance necessary to alter the course of her destiny. However, as is typical of Allende’s works, the story is anchored in a message of optimism and hope.