Talking in Whispers
...father and band were targeted as many of their songs are insulting the junta and talking of how Chileans want their freedom. Andres meets Isa and Beto as he is walking to Santiago after his father was captured, they stop and give him a lift. The ordinary citizens of Chile are terrified of the Junta. They are scared to come out of their houses and when they do, they do not voice their opinions on anything related to the Junta. They do as they are told, when they are told. They keep out of business that isn't theirs and they don't get involved in government affairs. You can see this in the following quote. "Do you know where Senora? She shook here head. "Not my business."" General Zuckerman and the military Junta will do anything to stay in power. They lie, cheat, steal, beg or borrow to get their way. An incident proving this comes when the CNI shoot Don Chailey (The ringleader of the opposing party). They blame it on the resistance and say the Junta stepped in and saved the day. They take anything that promotes free will or thought, burning books etc. Basically, the whole country is the Junta's puppets. They also set up "Treatment Centres" to torture anyone who may hold information on rivals or commit acts that they call "crimes", like violating the curfew they placed on all citizens, or a simple thing like reading a book they feel is “unfit”. Andres has one of the strongest characters in the novel. Strength and loyalty are both signs of a stereotypical hero, both of which Andres possesses. While trying to escape the Chilean secret police, Andres is captured and taken to the “House of Laughter”, the CNI’s Headquarters. After a short while, Andres is escorted to the Interrogation room where he is tortured for information. When he can take no more pain, he talks. But not about relevant information, even if this might me he will get more punishment. This shows courage on Anders’ part. He is dedicated to free Chile from oppression and I think that is what makes him as strong as he is Structurally, James Watson is clever in the way he creates suspense and makes the reader hang on to every word. He also applies contrast to the on ...