"El almohadón de plumas" es un cuento del escritor uruguayo Horacio Quiroga, publicado en el libro Cuentos de amor, de locura y de muerte en el año 1917.
Alicia, una mujer recién casada con Jordán, sufre una enfermedad misteriosa que la debilita progresivamente. Su esposo y los médicos no logran encontrar una explicación para su padecimiento.
Horacio Silvestre Quiroga Forteza was an Uruguayan novelist, poet, and (above all) short story writer.
He wrote stories which, in their jungle settings, use the supernatural and the bizarre to show the struggle of man and animal to survive. He also excelled in portraying mental illness and hallucinatory states. His influence can be seen in the Latin American magic realism of Gabriel García Márquez and the postmodern surrealism of Julio Cortázar.
An unforgettable short tale from the pen of Uruguayan short story writer Horacio Quiroga. I have included a link at the bottom so you can read for yourself. Spoiler Alert: My analysis covers the entire story, beginning to end.
The Shock of the Coarse: “Alicia's entire honeymoon gave her hot and cold shivers. A blonde, angelic, and timid young girl, the childish fancies she had dreamed about being a bride had been chilled by her husband's rough character.” Alicia dearly loves her husband Jordan and Jordan loves Alicia, but that's “rough character” as in coarseness and dark animal passion conjoined with sexuality – not the tenderness of gentle, affectionate caresses Alicia dreamed about leading up to her wedding day.
Marital Highpoint In White: Alicia and Jordan live in bliss for three month. But their house is so white – bare white walls, white panels, white columns, white statues – giving the impression of a winter palace. All that bright glacial brilliance of white stucco would give anyone walking from room to room a distinct sense of unpleasant coldness. The whiteness in Horacio Quiroga’s story puts a reader in mind of Albert Camus' "The Stranger," the whiteness Meursault encounters at the old age home when sitting next to his mother's coffin, white as the color of existential alienation.
Retreat Into Oneself: In an attempt to ward off the white hostility of that white house, Alicia makes the decision to live like a sleeping beauty, to not so much as think of anything until Jordan arrived home in the evening. Sorry to say, Alicia’s retreat into herself is not that uncommon. There are many 19th and early 20th century tales of wives living out on stark isolated farms, miles away from friends, neighbors and family, that were driven mad by bare, white farmhouse walls.
Proposed Cure: Alicia grows thin, suffers influenza and one day, with barely the strength to venture outdoors to the garden, through sobs and tears, cries out her fears to Jordan. From this point forward Alicia is bedridden. The doctor is summoned and prescribes calm and absolute rest. I wonder how many thousands of women obliged to live in deadening isolation have likewise been prescribed calm and bed-rest. Of course, to suggest a change of scenery or even, more drastic, a change of lifestyle might upset the social order, thus much modern medicine and psychiatry is geared to maintaining the status quo and social stability, a stasis not necessarily in the best interest of the patient, particularly if the patient is a woman.
Hallucinations, One: Alicia’s health becomes progressively worse. Jordan paces back and forth outside her bedroom door and, disappointed, despondent, paces back and forth alongside the bed. Alicia begins to have hallucinations, hazy figures wafting in the air and then floating down to the carpet; opening her eyes wide, she stares at the carpet, breaks out in a sweet and screams. Jordan rushes to her side and tenderly holds Alicia’s hand. A Jungian psychologist once told me that in our modern world the defining illness is now autism; back in the 19th century and early years of the 20th century, the defining illness was hysteria.
Hallucinations, Two: The next days offer Alicia no relief, the hallucinations continue, her most recurrent hallucination: an anthropoid down on the carpet, balancing on its fingertips, staring up at her. Ahhhh! Our tale has shifted from illness to terror and horror. In a way, not all that surprising since Horacio Quiroga’s life was filled with violence, tragedy and suicides: his father was killed by a shotgun in an accident; his beloved stepfather shot himself and 17-year-old Horacio discovered the body; in his early 20s Horacio accidentally shot and killed one of his best friends; his first wife committed suicide leaving Horacio with two little children.
Monsters: There was a degree of letup during the day but at night the hallucinations became even more ferocious – Alicia felt as if her entire frail body was being squashed by a million-pound weight and she began to see monsters crawling on her bedspread. She then lost consciousness and raved for two whole days while Jordan continued his pacing. And then, mercifully, Alicia died. When a person suffers in the agony of a unceasing living hell, death can be a release and relief – a fact more people in modern society, particularly in the medical industry, are well to keep in mind.
Red Stains: Jordan approaches the bed and sees stains on the pillow he suspects are drops of blood. The servant says the stains look like punctures. Jordan orders her to raise the pillow up to the light. The servant obeys but quickly drops the pillow, trembling. The mention of blood associated with a recent death brings immediately to mind the presence of a vampire. Is it any surprise such an image spawned and entire genre?
Horror Revealed: Here are the words of Horacio Quiroga: “Jordan picked it up; it was extraordinarily heavy. He carried it out of the room, and on the dining room table he ripped open the case and the ticking with a slash. The top feathers floated away, and the servant, her mouth opened wide, gave a scream of horror and covered her face with her clenched fists: in the bottom of the pillowcase, among the feathers, slowly moving its hairy legs, was a monstrous animal, a living viscous ball. It was so swollen one could scarcely make out its mouth."
The Unspeakable: As it turn out, ever since Alicia took to her bed this hidden bloodsucker was sucking her blood. And, the author warns us directly how it is not uncommon to encounter bloodsucking monsters in a feather pillow. Such a tale of terror – the horror of the possible presence of a hidden monster that might suck our blood when we turn out the lights to go to sleep. Pleasant dreams.
The Feather Pillow by Uruguayan poet and writer Horacio Quiroga is unsettling and a tad horrific.
An unsettling honeymoon, from the perspective of the ”blonde, angelic, shy young thing” due to the nature of her husband’s stern nature, introduced an a feeling of unease from the get-go.
He was in love with her, but never made it known to the poor woman – so how did she know, if he spent his time ‘stern and silent’?
She even wished for ‘less severity in those strict heavens of love, a more expansive and spontaneous tenderness.’ My word – this man is easy to dislike.
Anyway, this poor young lady lady becomes extremely sick. She fades away and within two days, she will never leave her bed.
The ending is disturbing. I don’t have feather pillows – but I’m afraid I won’t look at my comfy bundles of joy, quite the same again. Grrrrrr.
This piece gave me reason to look up this author who lived an interesting life back in the late 1800s early 1900s. Born in Uruguay he eventually moved to Argentina – and had a fair share of sorrow in his life, but he seemed like a bright bloke - scoring some interesting jobs. He died of prostate cancer (so he’s a brother - yay for us!). His father accidently shot himself and died and interestingly (and this one did make me guffaw – something I shouldn't have done – sorry); one of his friends was challenged to a duel, and Quiroga was so concerned for his friend's safety he offered to look after him before the event. While he was cleaning his friend’s gun, he accidently shot him, in the mouth – resulting in his death. Imagine that!!!
Anyway – this story - 3 Stars, but I’ve just learned there is one of his short stories called The Decapitated Chicken which is more horrific. So, I might just sample that one too.
Cheers to my mate Federico for putting me onto this one!
Esta obra la leí en la secundaria ... uuuhh! hace muchos años. Pero se me quedó grabada en la memoria. Aunque forma parte de los " cuentos de amor, locura y muerte" del mismo autor, merece un espacio aparte. Es impresionante cómo Horacio Quiroga maneja el lenguaje en esta obra. No se habla más que de todo lo que se trató de hacer para que la protagonista, que para mí no lo era, sanara de su extraña enfermedad. Del amor, el cuidado, la angustia de no saber porqué estaba enferma. Puedo imaginar la luz del día, las sábanas y las cobijas de su cama. El color de su cuarto, e incluso el calor o el frío que hacía en su casa. Recuerdo a su sirvienta, a su esposo preocupado, del cual de pronto no queda muy claro si es o no el causante de su enfermedad. El factor sorpresa del final es inigualable. Superrecomendable y digna de ser filmada.
Jordán and Alicia are a newlywed couple returning home from their honeymoon. At the beginning everything’s fine, but within short time for unknown reasons Alicia’s health starts slowly deteriorating, and has to spend gradually more and more time resting in bed, trying to recover.
This was just PERFECT! Or almost! One of the best and shortest horror stories I’ve ever read in my life, deserving a special place among my best of short literature shelf. The horrifying ending scene one shocking image I haven’t been able to erase from my mind since the day I read it, already decades by now.
I’m not a fan of Quiroga tbh, over time this author has given me enough duds to be wary of ever picking one of his books again; but this story, along with “The decapitated chicken,” are two unforgettable short horror masterpieces I’ll always vouch and be grateful for; and can’t recommend them enough.
----------------------------------------------- PERSONAL NOTE: [1917] [14p] [Horror] [4.5] [Extremely Recommendable] -----------------------------------------------
Jordán y Alicia son una pareja de recién casados que regresan a casa después de su luna de miel. Al principio todo está bien, pero al poco tiempo por razones desconocidas la salud de Alicia empieza a deteriorarse lentamente, y tiene que pasar gradualmente cada vez más y más tiempo descansando en la cama, intentando recuperarse.
¡Esto fue simplemente PERFECTO! ¡O casi! Una de las mejores y más cortas historias de terror que he leído jamás en mi vida, mereciendo un lugar especial en mi estantería de lo mejor de literatura corta. La horrible escena final, una imagen escalofriante que no he podido borrar de mi mente desde el día que la leí, siendo décadas ya.
Para ser honestos, no soy nada fan de Quiroga, con el tiempo este autor me ha dado suficientes debacles como para tener precaución de volver a tomar alguno de sus libros; pero esta historia, junto con “La gallina degollada,” son dos cortas e inolvidables obras maestras del terror por las que siempre daré fe y estaré agradecido; y no puedo recomendarlos lo suficiente.
----------------------------------------------- NOTA PERSONAL: [1917] [14p] [Horror] [4.5] [Extremadamente Recomendable] -----------------------------------------------
Mi español se ha estado oxidando terriblemente por el desuso y pensé en leer historias para refrescarlo. Desafortunadamente, este fue el primero. Tendré que abstenerme de examinar las almohadas cuando nos mudemos al extranjero durante el verano de la próxima semana.
¡Wow! Amé todo en esta historia: la narrativa, los personajes, la trama. Parecía ser predecible pero me encontré gratamente sorprendida.
El final fue bastante inesperado, imaginaba cualquier otra cosa excepto lo ocurrido, me encantó.
Es un relato corto, por lo que ni siquiera toma media hora leerlo completamente, así que lo recomiendo bastante, en especial si les agradan las historias de terror.
**SPOILERS** Ah yes, a short story on how unspoken feelings consumes a couple's young love. In what feels like a forced marriage; the husband is stern and cold, while the wife is somewhat clinging to an unrequited romantic future. In the end she is consumed by their silence. By their inability to exchange their needs in the shape of... bedbugs! After living/working in a hostel reeked with them I'll never forget them. They are tiny, persistent and potentially dangerous. In Quiroga's metaphor however, this ginormous bedbug seems to drain away the hopeful love still living in the innocent wife. Young love indeed.
Recuerdo haber leído este relato hace mucho tiempo, tal vez en mi infancia. Y me perturbó tanto que hasta poner la cabeza en la almohada me parecia ya de otro mundo. Ahora que lo vuelvo a leer no he sentido tal cosa, pero sigue siendo un relato magnífico.
Las plumas superiores volaron, y la sirvienta dio un grito de horror con toda la boca abierta, llevándose las manos crispadas a los bandos.
es increíble como en solo 14 páginas viví una montaña rusa de emociones y conclusiones que resultaron erróneas. la forma en la que el relato te pasea por cada idea que explique lo que alicia está viviendo y la razón de dicha enfermedad solo para qué, aún con el título haciendo una clara referencia, termine completamente anonada y hasta impactada por el desenlace.
estaba convencida de que tenía que ver con la soledad y añoro que alicia sentía por su esposo, por haber dejado toda su vida detrás para comenzar una nueva y no sentir la calidez que tanto deseaba. quizás en parte lo fue, pero.. bueno, lo que terminó por llevársela fue otra cosa.
sigo sin creer que un relato tan corto de pie a tantas confusiones, ideas y demás. nunca lo había leído, y tenía hasta miedo de tener expectativas muy altas.
más que el factor de terror, la verdad que las cuatro estrellas son más que nada por las idas y vueltas tan rápidas que tuvo la historia, creo que sigo procesando todo.
This was my first foray into the works of Horacio Quiroga, and i found it to be a cleverly written piece with a twisted surprise ending.
The honeymooners return home and all is well for a short time before but the bride seems less than enamored with the relationship.
The author creates an interesting atmosphere with his choice of words leaving the reader to consider perhaps a hidden meaning. He notes a shared “special kind of bliss” between the couple, but perhaps it’s meant to be irony.
He describes the “glacial brilliance” of the matrimonial home affirming “the sensation of unpleasant coldness”. We want to believe this mirrors her wedded relationship, and that somehow her husband’s demeanor is to blame.
But the bride falls unexplainably ill, that even medical attention cannot resolve. Her condition worsens each day and her husband becomes more concerned. (Maybe he’s not the bad guy?)
Then…oh horror of horrors… that twisted ending catches you by surprise and now you just don’t know what to make of everything that preceded it. Very clever!!
Todo un clásico del cuento fantástico hispanoamericano. A más de 100 años de su publicación, sigue provocando escalofríos (y haciendo que revisemos nuestras almohadas antes de dormir).
Woa. Me estremeció igual o más que cuando me hicieron leerlo de peque en la primaria, ¿cómo le vas a dar de leer terrible cuento terrorífico a un niño? JAJAJAJAJAJA Todo bien, porque es excelente, pero recuerdo que me generó un traumaaaa 😂
Ahora, lo amé muchísimo más. ¿Podré dormir? Eso no lo sabremos.