2 ?b90

182
It seems true to say that the lace tablecloth is a symbol of the family
continuity and Fazzolari makes the interesting point that Mallarmd regarded
lace as a symbol of poetry.
23
This may have some bearing since Lezama
published several studies on the French poet. The survival of a family
so closely linked with the Unconscious implies the continuing of the
poetic spirit; and likewise the connection between the material and spi-
ritual worlds perceived through poetic vision by Rialta, Dofra Augusta and
Cemi. The two women indulge in a lengthy discussion on traditional lace
designs in the very first chapter of the novel, and so the reader takes
leave of the secure family atmosphere under the influence of the same
image that helped to introduce it. The break-up of the family is heral-
ded by the presence on the cloth of a set of green dishes: "consegula el
efecto tonal de una hoja
...
(Iv 253). The family tree sheds members
like leaves, against a background of continuity - this does not mean that
the tree itself will die. However the dishes are placed on a cloth, the
lace clothj, which is like "la mitad del cuerno menguante lunar
...
" (IJ,
253); that is, decline has set in and the family will fade like the moon,
which is also cyclic and may wax again in the person and poetry of Cemi.
The idea unites with Doffa Augusta's attempts to turn the clock back:
"Los he querido rejuvenecer a todos" (1.253)2 by evoking childhood memo-
ries of the origins, so that her guests "Se sentirdn niffos ...
(12 253).
Yet all these attempts to prevent decline and decay fall on deaf ears,
with the exception of Cemi., who is the hope for the continuation of all
Dofra Augusta and Rialta represent.
Va. tious other aspects of the meal seem to be portents of doom.
Alberto's lively fishes are now transformed into a magnificent sea-food
souffl4, which includes the emperor fish (rex puer? ). Lezama Lima makes
obvious the menace of the three blood-red beetroot stains on the white
cloth. Demetrio is unable to avoid causing them despite three attempts.