The Founders of a Nation

 "My responsibility was to nurse the wounded and ill back to health, and to do what I like best: founding. That was something I had never done before. I discovered my vocations and have never turned away from it. From that moment on, I have built hospitals, churches, convents, chapels, sanctuaries...entire towns...This land is fertile, and its fruits should provide for all." 

Isabel Allende (Inés of my Soul 164)

From the opening pages of this novel, we have seen the character of Inés evolve as that of an incredibly stoic, determined, and courageous woman. Inés was thought of as strange in her actions because this behavior was unusual and uncommon for the culture of women in Spain during that time. The New World was not the only place for determined and strong minded women like Inés, several examples are also seen in the thousand mile excursion made by the Mormon pioneer’s crossing the Midwest and also while they encountered many similar situations.

The history of the Mormon pioneers crossing the Midwest to the Salt Lake valley can be paralleled to any new territory of conquest. The natives covered much of North America as well and created very dangerous travel territory. Though the pioneers had a completely different objective in settling this new land, the women in these travel parties, while some lost their husbands to natives, exhaustion, and harsh elements continued to press on with their children in tow because of their desire for religious freedom. 

These pioneer women were as much founders and fighters as Inés was during her life time. Both starting their lives from scratch many times and re-creating what they hoped would be a new life, away from the suffering and distress they previously lived and knew. They echoed in their own footsteps and lives many of the words stated by Inés. At large these women did as much as their husbands in persevering and completing this journey, from the watching of their children, to the protecting and plowing of every step in their journey while ultimately building a flourishing land from what was before an isolate dessert abyss.

In both examples these women created a new town and a new life and thousands became benefactors of their courage to create in a barren land, and to their perseverance among the afflictions of dessert or snow, Indians, and near starving situations. In both of these New Worlds new lands were generated, new opportunities presented, and new lands for other founders.