![]() Who occupies what territory? Do the siblings possess their inherited home and property, which they fail to defend against the unknown “occupiers”? Or is it the other way around? The story also brings up questions about the imaginary fear that creates the dichotomy between “the native” versus “the Other.” Do the siblings represent the law-abiding citizens of today, who try to keep their houses clean and quiet, mind their own business, and refuse to engage at all with the Other? Do they represent the guardians of normality? Or do they represent progressive democratic citizens, who have been forced to give space to the elected tyrants of today? Or, rather, do the invaders represent an authoritarian regime?Īs the world turns to the right, nationalist and racist politicians take power in local and national politics, a phenomenon spreading like a virus. This story offers a parable for contemporary conundrums regarding territory and legitimacy, although its meaning is open to interpretation. ![]() ![]() Driven by fear, they finally abandon and lock up their house, disposing of the key. One night, the siblings hear noises from a different side of the house and, petrified, they seal off the doors, relinquishing half the house to “them.” By the end of the story, they are driven out by the thought of other inhabitants occupying all the remaining rooms-“others” who they never see but who they are convinced exist. It narrates the life of two middle-aged siblings in their inherited mansion, who fastidiously clean its eight bedrooms each day and silently enjoy lunches and dinners in peaceful surroundings. In Bestiario, a book of short stories by the Argentinian writer Julio Cortázar, “Casa Tomada” from 1951 stands out.
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