Chapter 23 Summary, Analysis, and Key Takeaways
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
The chapter opens with Tristán waking up in López's house on a Friday evening during the posadas season. Montserrat is asleep beside him, and he takes a moment to admire her hair and her unconventional beauty, thinking she resembles a “witchy Circe” rather than a demure Penelope. When she wakes, they exchange playful banter about her split ends and grooming habits. López interrupts with a knock, announcing supper.
The meal is a watery chicken soup, which makes Tristán long for his mother's cooking and his own apartment. López wastes no time in laying out a plan to end Ewers's curse. He explains that they need to replicate Ewers's original magic by drawing the six runes that were intended for the film's credits onto the silver nitrate can, using leeches and a volunteer's blood. This act of sympathetic magic would symbolically tell the film that its story is over, allowing them to destroy it. Montserrat confirms that this kind of spell appears in Ewers's book, establishing a link between objects.
However, López admits he doesn't know the exact runes; Abel, who is dead, would have known. He insists that Tristán must summon Abel's ghost, claiming that Tristán has been unconsciously summoning his dead girlfriend Karina. Tristán is furious and refuses, accusing López of trying to make him a necromancer. He storms off to the bedroom, leaving Montserrat to follow.
In the bedroom, Montserrat tries to persuade him, but Tristán resists, fearing he might summon Karina instead of Abel. He finally reveals the full story of the accident that killed Karina: they had a fight at a party, she accused him of not loving her, she drank heavily, and he ignored her. When she said she was driving home, he didn't stop her, wanting to teach her a lesson. He closed his eyes in the car, and she crashed. He survived with a scar and a titanium mesh holding his eye in place, but his first thought upon waking was whether his face looked okay. He admits he never visited her grave and that he wanted her to break up with him because he didn't love her.
Montserrat listens without judgment, then tells him that López says the living hold on to ghosts, and that Tristán has made a haunted house of his own flesh. She reminds him that they caused Ewers's awakening and must clean it up. She touches his scars, and he finally agrees to help, though he is terrified of facing Karina.
Alone in the bathroom, Tristán holds up Karina's photograph, apologizes for not bringing her pink roses, and summons her. She appears beside him, mournful but not bloody. He raises his hand in a mute goodbye, then burns the photo in the sink and washes the ashes away. When he looks up, she is gone.
Key Events
- Tristán wakes next to Montserrat in López's house; they share a tender moment. - López proposes a plan to destroy the film using sympathetic magic with runes and blood. - López reveals he doesn't know the runes and insists Tristán must summon Abel's ghost. - Tristán refuses and leaves the table; Montserrat follows. - Tristán confesses the full story of Karina's death, including his guilt and selfishness. - Montserrat persuades him to help, reminding him of their responsibility. - Tristán goes to the bathroom, apologizes to Karina's photo, summons her, and lets her go by burning the photo.
Character Development
This chapter is a turning point for Tristán. He moves from denial and sarcasm to a painful confession and, finally, to a willingness to confront his past. His confession reveals deep-seated guilt: he admits he didn't love Karina, that he wanted her to break up with him, and that he failed to stop her from driving drunk. He also admits his first thought after the accident was about his own face, not her safety. This honesty marks a shift from his usual avoidance. Montserrat's unwavering friendship and her reminder that they must clean up the mess they helped create push him to accept the task. López, though abrasive, serves as a catalyst, forcing Tristán to acknowledge his latent necromantic ability. The chapter ends with Tristán taking a concrete step toward letting go of Karina, symbolically burning her photo.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Sympathetic Magic: The plan to draw runes on the film can relies on the principle that affecting one object affects another. This mirrors the novel's broader exploration of how actions have consequences. - Necromancy and the Dead: Tristán's ability to see and summon ghosts is central. López claims he has been unconsciously calling Karina, and the chapter shows him finally doing it deliberately. - Guilt and Confession: Tristán's confession is a form of catharsis. He admits his selfishness and responsibility for the accident, which is a necessary step for him to move forward. - Letting Go: The burning of the photograph is a powerful symbol of release. Tristán finally says goodbye to Karina, acknowledging that he must stop carrying her ghost. - Friendship and Loyalty: Montserrat stands by Tristán, even when he is at his worst. Her insistence that they work together underscores the theme of mutual responsibility. - Cost of Magic: López emphasizes that spells require energy and willpower, and the chapter shows the emotional cost of Tristán's necromantic act.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is pivotal because it forces Tristán to confront the central trauma of his life—the death of Karina—and to accept his role in the supernatural events unfolding. His confession humanizes him and deepens the reader's understanding of his motivations. The decision to summon Abel's ghost sets up the next phase of the plot, as the trio will need the runes to destroy the film. Moreover, Tristán's act of letting go of Karina suggests a potential for growth and redemption, making him a more sympathetic character. The chapter also reinforces the novel's themes of guilt, responsibility, and the lingering power of the past.
Study Questions and Answers
- Why does Tristán initially refuse to summon Abel's ghost?
Tristán refuses because he is afraid of his own necromantic ability and fears he might summon Karina instead. He also resents being asked to do something he doesn't understand, and he is still in denial about having been unconsciously summoning her.
- What does Tristán's confession reveal about his character?
His confession reveals deep-seated guilt and selfishness. He admits he didn't love Karina, that he wanted her to break up with him, and that he failed to stop her from driving drunk. He also reveals that his first thought after the accident was about his own appearance, not her safety. This honesty shows a willingness to confront his flaws, which is a significant step for him.
- How does the burning of the photograph symbolize Tristán's emotional journey?
The burning of the photograph represents Tristán's decision to let go of Karina's ghost. By apologizing and summoning her, he acknowledges his grief and guilt, and by burning the photo, he symbolically releases her and himself from the past. It is a ritual of closure that allows him to move forward and focus on the task at hand.