The Feather Pillow Literary Analysis

Questions and Answers

What causes the young bride's 'hot and cold shivers'?

Honeymoon

How does the author describe Alicia and Jordan's house?

It's a 'wintry enchanted palace' with 'completely bare walls' and 'a sensation of unpleasant coldness.'

What does Alicia do during a typical day?

Waits for Jordan to return from work

What makes Alicia ill the first time?

Influenza and anemia Signup and view all the answers

What do the doctors find wrong with Alicia?

'She has a great weakness that I am unable to explain.' Signup and view all the answers

In the depths of her illness, Alicia imagines she sees what?

Anthropoid Signup and view all the answers

During his wife's illness, it becomes clear that Jordan feels what about his wife?

Profound love Signup and view all the answers

What causes Alicia's death?

'...night after night the abomination had applied its proboscis to the girl's temples, sucking her blood.' Signup and view all the answers

What does the feather pillow have to do with Alicia's death?

'Among the feathers, slowly moving its hairy legs, was a monstrous animal, a living, viscous ball.' Signup and view all the answers

What is a Gothic theme that can be found in The Feather Pillow?

Houses with secret evil Signup and view all the answers

Unlike the Gothic fiction of Poe, Quiroga's story is a product of what culture?

Latin American culture Signup and view all the answers

The Feather Pillow uses the Gothic form to show the effects of...

Isolation for women in old-fashioned communities Signup and view all the answers

What details from the story foreshadow the outcome of the story?

'Alicia had no more fainting spells but she was visibly moving towards death.' Signup and view all the answers

What effect do you think Quiroga was trying to achieve in The Feather Pillow?

One of suspense in horror Signup and view all the answers

What aspects of his style show him trying to achieve that effect?

The way the author describes the house, Jordan's repeating footsteps, Alicia's hallucinations, the doctor's words and the servant's discovery on the pillow Signup and view all the answers

How is Jordan portrayed in the beginning of the story?

Distant and cold Signup and view all the answers

The conflict of character vs. the supernatural is seen in Alicia when she hallucinates because...

The anthropoid she sees could represent the harm her husband's lack of love has on her health. Signup and view all the answers

What does Alicia's illness only at night symbolize?

Fear as evil, supernatural forces are typically associated with night. Signup and view all the answers

How is Jordan's character different towards the end of the story?

He shows signs of concern and he is dedicated to his wife's care, both of which show his loving affection. Signup and view all the answers

The mood in the beginning of the story is...

Brooding and somber Signup and view all the answers

Cite words or phrases that support the mood in the beginning of the story.

Chills, shuddering, unpleasant coldness, abandonment Signup and view all the answers

A theme for the story might be regret because...

Jordan loved his wife profoundly but he never let it be seen. When he did so, her life was already slipping away. Signup and view all the answers

Alicia's love for Jordan contributed to her death because...

'She had determined to cast a veil over her former dreams and live like a sleeping beauty in the hostile house, trying not to think about anything until her husband arrived each evening.' Signup and view all the answers

When Alicia becomes sick, the mood in the story shifted from one of minor anxiety to one of terror and horror. Cite words to show the new mood.

Deathly silence, delirium, hair rise on the back of his head, raved ceaselessly, crepuscular terror, monsters dragged themselves toward the bed Signup and view all the answers

How does the vampiric nature of the parasite compare to Alicia and Jordan's relationship?

Both had a vampiric/parasitic relationship with one another. The creature fed off Alicia's blood, causing her to die. Jordan's distance and lack of affection also sucked the life from her emotionally. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Feather Pillow Analysis

The story begins with Alicia experiencing "hot and cold shivers" during her honeymoon, highlighting her unsettled state.
Alicia and Jordan’s home is described as a "wintry enchanted palace," characterized by bare walls and an unpleasant coldness, creating a sense of isolation.
Alicia spends her days waiting for Jordan to return from work, emphasizing her loneliness.
Alicia's health declines due to influenza and anemia, creating a foundation for her later struggles.
Doctors are perplexed by Alicia's condition, stating she has "a great weakness that I am unable to explain."
In her illness, Alicia hallucinates and imagines seeing an anthropoid, illustrating her deteriorating mental state.
Jordan's feelings towards Alicia reveal profound love during her illness, indicating a shift in his character from distant to more caring.
Alicia's ultimate demise is attributed to a parasitic creature that feeds on her blood, which signifies the horror aspect of the narrative.
The feather pillow is integral to Alicia's death; it harbors a monstrous being that symbolizes the insidious nature of her condition.
A gothic theme present in the narrative is the presence of houses with hidden evil, reflecting the story's dark undertones.
Unlike Poe's Gothic fiction, Quiroga's work emerges from a Latin American cultural background, showcasing different cultural elements.
The Gothic form in The Feather Pillow effectively illustrates the isolation faced by women in conservative communities.
Foreshadowing is used effectively; Alicia's lack of fainting spells hints at her gradual decline towards death.
Quiroga aims to create an emotional effect of suspense and horror, mirroring classical Gothic themes.
Elements of descriptive style, such as the portrayal of the house and the characters’ interactions, help build the suspenseful atmosphere.
Jordan is initially characterized as cold and distant, which sets the stage for the emotional pay-off later when he shows concern.
The conflict between character and the supernatural is represented by Alicia's hallucinations, suggesting her husband’s emotional neglect contributes to her decline.
Alicia’s night-time illness symbolizes fear, as night aligns with supernatural connotations, enhancing the story's horror elements.
By the end, Jordan's character evolves to show care for Alicia, contrasting his earlier coldness and showing deeper affection.
The mood at the beginning is described as brooding and somber, setting a foreboding tone for the narrative.
Phrases such as "chills," "unpleasant coldness," and "abandonment" reinforce the somber mood established early on.
A major theme is regret; Jordan realizes he loved Alicia but failed to express it until it was nearly too late.
Alicia's desire to suppress her past dreams and live as a "sleeping beauty" reflects her sacrificial love, ultimately contributing to her demise.
As Alicia's illness progresses, the mood shifts from anxiety to terror, illustrated by words like "deathly silence" and "crepuscular terror."
The parasitic nature of the creature parallels Jordan and Alicia's relationship, where both emotionally and physically drain her vitality.

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