Acclaimed writer addresses university community

By Christopher DaCosta

Tuesday night acclaimed Chilean writer Isabel Allende gave a rousing keynote address to the Santa Clara community in the Mayer Theater.

Allende was invited to be Santa Clara's Leader in Residence for 2003.

Allende's address, entitled "The Role of the Writer in an Era of Globalization," was a biographical exploration into the cultural, personal and political influences which not only shaped her internationally acclaimed writing but her morals, ideals, essence and being.

Introduced by President Paul Locatelli, S.J., as a "celebrated literary figure," the author of the 1982 novel "The House of the Spirits" charmed the audience with her quick wit and intelligent humor within a few seconds of her ascension to the podium.

The self-described "full-blown feminist" is also a journalist, teacher, playwright, activist and an engaging public speaker.

Allende's speech traced her Chilean roots, her evolution as tomboy to an accomplished, strong woman and also her process of self-actualization which came with life altering tragedies and joys, subsequently resulting in renowned literature.

"Literature saved me from despair," Allende said of her passion for writing which incorporates characters modeled after family members and other figures in her life.

"A lot of her characters are about strong women, strong women who have survived and that message is very powerful," said Marites Fiesta one of the coordinators for the Leader in Residence program Marites Fiesta.

Allende said that through her characters she aims for a universality and applicability, despite drawing influences from specific people.

Her writing has had a global impact; originally written in Spanish, Allende's works have been translated into over 27 languages, which she humbly dismissed as a "few languages."

Some of her novels have even been made into movies; "The House of the Spirits" is one, starring Antonio Banderas and Meryl Streep, among other big-name Hollywood stars.

Allende attributes her success to luck. "I happen to have an ear for stories, an unhappy childhood and a strange family." Yet she does reveal that "nothing makes her soul sing more" than the art of writing.

For the past two days, Santa Clara University's Center for Student Leadership (CSL) has hosted Allende in the Sobrato guest scholar apartment.

Fiesta describes the Leader in Residence program as an event that brings the perspective of the artist, educator and activist to campus.

"What Leader in Residence strives to do is engage students in a number of topics - leadership, service and community," said Fiesta, also the assistant director of CSL. "We create a number of learning environments. For example, Allende does meet with students in a classroom, academic setting, then with the community at the keynote address and then with faculty and staff."

Additionally, the program serves as a way for students to discover themselves. "We want students to start thinking critically about who they are, who they want to become, and what vocation they want to pursue," said Fiesta.

At the end of her keynote address, Allende was greeted with a standing ovation - inspiring the community with her tale of her life as a writer in our time of globalization.