Attachment and Responsibility in Rosa Montero's El corazón del tártaro

Abstract:In her 2001 novel El corazón del Tártaro, Rosa Montero shows how the main character, Zarza, descends into the darkest corner of a metaphorical hell (Tartarus) and the physical and emotional journey she takes to emerge from that inferno. In this article, I use John Bowlby's attachment theory to argue that while the heartless abuse she suffers at the hands of her father and brother leads Zarza to commit her own horrific acts of abuse and betrayal, Zarza's true demise comes as a direct consequence of her breaking bonds of attachment with innocent people for whom she has responsibility. Her subsequent redemption comes as she moves through a therapeutic process that begins with her finding a secure base and then exploring her relationships past and present. The process culminates in Zarza accepting responsibility for her actions and re-imagining and re-building those affectionate bonds.