Of Love And Other Demons

The Marquis abandons Sierva María twice: once when she is born, and once again when he leaves her at the convent. Why does he do this? 

Sierva María's mother claims she "wouldn't tell the truth even by mistake" (16), and Sierva seems to enjoy lying. Why is she characterized this way? What effects does her lying have on her life?

Focusing on Sierva María, Dulce Olivia, and Bernarda, compare how the women in the novel are portrayed as compared to the men, focusing on Father Delaura, the Marquis, and Abrenuncio. What argument does Márquez seem to be making, if any, about gender?

The novel takes place during a time of intellectual and social upheaval: the Age of Enlightenment in Spain. How does this upheaval trickle down to the colonies, particularly the one in the novel? What effect does this have on Sierva's treatment?

Choose and define the demons, aside from love, to which the novel’s title refers.

Sierva means both 'servant' and 'slave' in Spanish. In what ways does Sierva María fulfill each of her name's meaning?

Each of the main characters except for Sierva has a section dedicated to their point-of-view. Why might this be? What effect does this have on the novel?

What role does fate play for the characters in the novel?