On the surface, Fuentes' Aura is a very strange and disturbing book. It draws you in and keeps you there, compelling you to read the book until the end. Just beneath the surface, a world of symbolism, words, and parallels leads to a deeper understanding of what is happening throughout this captivating tale. By skimming the surface of the story, an abundance of symbols can be pointed out, but a recurrence of symbols is very important. One of the most prevalent symbols in this story is the darkness of Senora Consuelo's old colonial mansion. The house is so dark that the characters must learn to maneuver by sound and touch. Darkness sets the tone for the entire story. Madame Consuelo's room is not bathed in light but filled with "perpetual shadows". Of course, darkness and shadows are an essential element of Gothic, but darkness can also suggest the unknown or the inability to think clearly. Shadows could be interpreted as that which is obscure, difficult to grasp or simply beyond clear vision. Did the darkness and shadows contribute to Felipe's state of mind and make him more responsive to Madame Consuelo's will? The rooms where the action of a story takes place are also very important. Some rooms used in the book are the bedrooms, dining room, living room and enclosed patio garden. The first room you see inside this old house is the garden patio. This piece is interesting because the smell of the patio is always associated with the character of the title. Felipe is looking for her in this garden; he smells the patio plants in his hair. Symbolically, the garden can be associated with the mind, the unconscious, or it can give you clues about your own inner state. Plants, flowers and fruits found in the garden can also highlight the middle of the paper ......book. These symbols and recurrences are not coincidental or superficial, but upon investigation they provide deeper insight into the depth to which our main character's state of mind has been affected. We now know that Felipe had almost no choice and allowed himself to be lulled into this house. Then there is a plausible explanation for the true relationship between Aura and Senora Consuelo. This book turns out to be a very strange life/death cycle that still leaves questions unanswered. Work citedFuentes, Carlos. Will have. Trans. Lysandre Kemp. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1981. Fuentes, Carlos. “Worlds apart”. Modernism/postmodernism. Ed. Peter Brooker. London: Longman, 1992. 244-46. Gillespie, Kathleen "A Literary Legend Speaks? Carlos Fuentes at Askwith Education Forum" December 1, 2003 http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/featrures/fuentes12012000.html