To grow up, marry and have children. This seemed to be the "real" role for women during the period of time in which Allende was growing up. She, however, did not necessarily hold to this view for herself. We see several times in which she talks about never finding someone to love. However, I also see in her that she was independent, and wanted certain things out of life.

In Allende's mother, we see two instances in which she pushes her daughter to marry: First to Michael and later to Willie. A mother wants her daughter to be happy, but her mother wanted her daughter to marry so it would look right. Her mother also wants her married so she would not have to face the scorn that she went through. Her mother also did not tell her she needed to be faithful in her marriage to Michael, but that she should never tell him if she was not.

Time seems to have a way of changing things in Allende's mind. Her idea of marriage seems to gain a greater importance as time goes on. Although, in the end, her marriage with Michael fell apart, I think it caused her to realize how vital marriage was to her life. Before her affair, I think she felt trapped, she was only a wife and mother with no means of her own. However, following that, she became her own independent person apart from Michael. Finally, with Willie, we see a different Allende. She is in the marriage for love and it is at this time that she makes a point to list commitment as a priority.

One other avenue I believe Allende used to show an appreciation for love and marriage is in the lives of her children. Both Paula and Nicolas find mates that make them incredibly happy, and allow them to start families.

With Allende's emphasis on family, it is no surprise that she also seems o see marriage as important; first in the way of tradition and also in the true sense of sealing a commitment. She realized a need for love, but not to lose one's own identity in the process. It took her years to come to this conclusion, but it seems to be what she found with Willie.