Summary
Paulina is a complex and ambiguous character who represents both the victim and the survivor of the dictatorship. She is a victim because she suffered unimaginable physical and psychological pain at the hands of her captors, and because she never received any recognition or reparation for her ordeal. She is also a survivor because she managed to escape alive, and because she has the courage and the strength to confront her past and seek justice.
Paulina's actions in the play are controversial and morally questionable. She kidnaps Roberto, ties him to a chair, and puts him on trial for his crimes. She threatens to kill him unless he confesses and asks for her forgiveness. She also ignores the pleas of her husband, Gerardo, who is a lawyer and a member of the commission that investigates the human rights violations of the dictatorship. Gerardo tries to persuade Paulina to follow the rule of law and to respect Roberto's rights, but Paulina refuses to listen. She believes that the legal system is corrupt and ineffective, and that the only way to achieve justice is through her own means.
Paulina's behavior can be seen as a form of revenge, but also as a form of healing. She wants to make Roberto suffer as she did, but she also wants to hear him acknowledge his guilt and apologize. She wants to reclaim her dignity and her voice, and to expose the truth that has been silenced for so long. She wants to liberate herself from the fear and the nightmares that haunt her, and to find some closure and peace.
Paulina's dilemma is not easy to resolve. On one hand, she has the right to demand justice and to confront her oppressor. On the other hand, she violates the principles of democracy and human rights that she claims to defend. She also risks becoming a perpetrator herself, and losing her humanity and her sanity. The play does not offer a clear answer or a happy ending. It leaves the audience with a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty, and invites them to reflect on their own views and values.
QUOTES
QUOTE 1:
"I'm not going to kill him, Gerardo. I'm going to put him on trial."
(Act 2, Scene 1)
First, the use of the personal pronoun "I" and the verb "going to" show her determination and agency. She is not asking for permission or approval from Gerardo, but asserting her own will and power. She is also contrasting herself with the doctor, who killed many people without giving them a chance to defend themselves. Second, the repetition of the word "him" emphasizes the objectification and dehumanization of Roberto. Paulina does not use his name or any respectful title, but reduces him to a pronoun that implies distance and contempt. She does not see him as a person, but as a symbol of her trauma and oppression. Third, the phrase "put him on trial" suggests a sense of justice and morality. Paulina wants to expose Roberto's crimes and make him accountable for his actions. She also wants to reclaim her voice and dignity, and challenge the official narrative that denies or minimizes the atrocities of the dictatorship. However, the phrase also implies a paradox and irony, since Paulina is not following the legal procedures or respecting Roberto's rights. She is acting as the judge, jury and executioner, and using the same methods of torture and intimidation that he used on her. Therefore, the quote also raises questions about the nature and limits of justice, revenge and forgiveness in the context of human rights violations.
QUOTE 2:
"I'm not crazy, Gerardo. I'm not crazy. I'm just doing what you should have done a long time ago. What you should have done for me and for all the others."
(Act 5, Scene 5)
One language device used in the quote is repetition. Paulina repeats the phrase "I'm not crazy" twice, which shows her desperation to convince Gerardo and herself that she is sane and rational. She also repeats the phrase "What you should have done" twice, which emphasizes her accusation and resentment towards Gerardo for not protecting her and the other victims of the dictatorship. Repetition also creates a sense of urgency and intensity in Paulina's speech.
Another language device used in the quote is contrast. Paulina contrasts her actions with Gerardo's inaction, using the words "I'm just doing" and "you should have done". This shows that Paulina believes she is taking justice into her own hands, while Gerardo is passive and complicit. She also contrasts the present with the past, using the words "now" and "a long time ago". This shows that Paulina is haunted by her past trauma and that she thinks Gerardo has delayed or denied justice for too long.
A third language device used in the quote is pronouns. Paulina uses the singular pronoun "I" and the plural pronoun "you" to create a distance and a conflict between herself and Gerardo. She also uses the plural pronoun "all the others" to refer to the collective victims of the dictatorship, which shows that she feels solidarity and empathy with them, and that she sees herself as their representative and avenger.
THEMES
HYSTERICAL WOMAN
Paulina's character is often portrayed as a hysterical woman, who is irrational, emotional, and vengeful. However, this label is not only unfair, but also a way of silencing and dismissing her trauma and her quest for justice. Paulina's hysteria is a result of her oppression and marginalization, not a flaw in her personality. She is a woman who has been denied her voice, her dignity, and her agency, and who is forced to confront her past in a society that wants to forget and move on. Paulina's hysteria is also a form of resistance and empowerment, as she challenges the patriarchal and authoritarian structures that have violated her and others. She refuses to be a passive victim, and instead takes control of the situation and demands recognition and accountability from her abuser. Paulina's character is not a stereotype of the hysterical woman, but a complex and nuanced representation of a survivor of state violence and a fighter for human rights.
JUSTICE
Paulina's sense of justice is personal and emotional, rather than legal and rational. She does not trust the official institutions or the rule of law, which have failed to protect her and other victims. She also does not care about the consequences of her actions, which may endanger her marriage and the fragile democracy. Paulina's character challenges the audience to question the meaning and limits of justice in the context of trauma and reconciliation.
REVENGE
Revenge has a negative impact on Paulina's character, as it exposes her to moral dilemmas, ethical conflicts and psychological risks. She becomes violent, irrational and obsessed with her plan, disregarding the consequences for herself, her husband and Roberto. She also violates the human rights and due process that she claims to defend, as she acts as a judge, jury and executioner without any evidence or witnesses. She also risks losing her sanity and humanity, as she relives her past trauma and becomes consumed by hatred and vengeance. She also jeopardizes her relationship with Gerardo, who tries to dissuade her from her actions and to mediate between her and Roberto. She also faces the uncertainty of Roberto's guilt or innocence, as he denies being her torturer and offers alternative explanations for his involvement.
