Casa Tomada

"Casa Tomada," or "The House Taken Over," is a short story by Argentine writer Julio Cortázar, first published in 1946. The story tells the tale of two siblings living in their ancestral home, which has been taken over by an unknown presence.

The story begins with the narrator, an unnamed man, and his sister Irene, both of whom live in a large, old house that has been in their family for generations. The siblings live alone, as their parents have passed away, and they have no other family or friends nearby. The house is described as having many rooms and hallways, and the siblings live in only a small portion of the house, leaving the rest of it locked and unused.

The siblings have a routine of sorts, which includes reading, gardening, and listening to music. One day, as they are listening to music, they hear a noise coming from one of the unused rooms in the house. They investigate but find nothing. The same thing happens the following day, and again, they find nothing. Eventually, the noises become more frequent and louder, and the siblings realize that there is something or someone living in the unused portion of the house.

Despite their fear, the siblings continue to live in the house and attempt to go about their daily lives. They come up with a plan to lock all of the unused rooms and only use the parts of the house that they feel are safe. However, even this plan proves futile, as the unknown presence begins to take over more and more of the house, eventually forcing the siblings out of their living quarters and into a small corner of the house.

As the story progresses, the siblings become more and more isolated from the outside world, and their interactions with each other become strained. They begin to lose their grip on reality and their sense of self, as the unknown presence takes over their lives completely.

The story ends with the siblings being forced out of their home and onto the street, with nothing but the clothes on their backs. They are left to wander the streets, with no clear sense of direction or purpose.

"Casa Tomada" is a haunting and atmospheric story that explores themes of isolation, loss, and the unknown. Cortázar's use of language and imagery creates a sense of dread and unease throughout the story, and the reader is left with a feeling of emptiness and despair at the end.

One of the most striking aspects of the story is the way in which the unknown presence is depicted. It is never fully explained or described, and the reader is left to imagine what it might be. This ambiguity adds to the story's sense of unease, as the reader is never quite sure what is happening or why.

The story can be read as a commentary on the effects of isolation and loneliness on the human psyche. The siblings, cut off from the outside world and with no one to turn to, are forced to confront their own fears and insecurities. The unknown presence can be seen as a manifestation of their inner demons, and their inability to confront and overcome these demons ultimately leads to their downfall.

In conclusion, "Casa Tomada" is a masterful work of short fiction that explores complex themes in a concise and powerful manner. Cortázar's use of language and imagery creates a vivid and haunting portrait of isolation and loss, and the story's ambiguity and sense of unease leave a lasting impression on the reader.