City of the Beasts

Many of the changes that Alex and Nadia undergo are tied to the different settings they encounter during their journey. Choose one of the settings that shapes their story and explore the ways in which that particular place influences their growth.

When Alex reads in his guidebook that the natives have no formal art in their society, Kate responds: “[t]hey don’t care about posterity, or showing off. Most of our so-called artists would do well to follow their example” (49). What does the lack of formal art reveal about the culture of the People of the Mist? In what other ways do they express their creativity, and how does that expression shape their society for better or worse?

Padre Valdomero appears in only a few scenes, but his perspective on the Indians is uniquely nuanced. How do his opinions differ from those of the other major characters, and how might the rest of the expedition have been different if he had been present?

With few exceptions, Allende chooses to tell this story in close third-person narration, sticking closely to Alex’s perspective. What is the impact of this narrative choice on the story, both positive and negative? How might a different choice—such as first-person narration or a broader third-person narration—have changed the meaning of the plot?

Alex suspects that because the Beasts do not contemplate death, they do not need gods. If facing death means requiring a connection to a god, how does the increasing danger that Alex faces during his journey change his relationship to spirituality and potential religious meaning?

Kate decides not to publish an article about the Beasts, although they are fascinatingly unique creatures. Knowing all the details about their society, how would you define them if you were writing an article about them? Are they animals or people? Magical or mundane? Good or evil?

Gender roles, particularly as they relate to women, loom large in this story. Choose three of the female characters from this novel and contrast the ways in which their female identity shapes their characters and actions, particularly in relation to their cultural contexts.

Allende advocates for protection of the Amazon’s native tribes and land, indicating that even well-meaning characters like Kate have the potential to cause the destruction of delicately balanced ecosystems and cultures. Drawing on the impacts—positive and negative—that the expedition has on the People of the Mist and the Beasts, make an argument for why outside intervention in pristine climates like the Amazon is or isn’t a good idea.