The Character of Esteban in The House of the SpiritsAllende portrays Esteban as a strong and harsh character in the novel The House of the Spirits. Yet, after leaving his mother and sister and starting a new and independent life, Esteban changes a lot. For the first time he is successful and rich. He feels like he has no problems, especially since he doesn't have a family to weigh him down. Trueba's move to Tres Marie seems to temporarily assuage his hunger, before his monstrous, demanding, and ever-increasing needs overwhelm him. The type of life achieved by Esteban Trueba in Tre Maria far surpasses that of living with his mother and sister, yet there are only brief moments of satisfaction. These moments, mentioned above, created a hunger for perfection and a greed that would continue to perpetuate itself at any cost. Receiving a letter from Ferula brings back memories for Esteban of his sad life with her and her mother, which forces him to endure his memories of poverty and pain. He even remembers the smell of medicine that had enveloped their house. These memories force Esteban to reflect on the reasons why he left them. He remembers that part of his life, occupied by the deterioration of his family. Ferula also bore many burdens, due to her father's drinking, then his death, her mother's age, her chronic illnesses, and Esteban's childhood care. A direct result of these chaotic years is the brothers' inability to relate. When Esteban bought a luxury, fancy coffee with her money, she scolded him for "spending mother's medicine money on [her] little private whims" (Allende 43). Eventually Esteban grows tired of this oppressive lifestyle and goes in search of a "bright destiny, free and full of promise" (Allende 44). In Tres Marias he hopes to find his Eden. All this burden of his past is brought to his attention by the letter he receives from Ferula. The letter results in inflicting blame on Esteban, for his lack of morals and his complete selfishness. Ferula tells Esteban, in the letter, that the mother wants to see her son again before she dies. "Esteban had never truly loved his mother nor felt comfortable in her presence", but he knew that resisting this visit to pay his last respects would be immoral (Allende 71).