“LA CASA DE AZÚCAR”IN SEMBOLİK İMGELEMİ

The present work analyzes the short story La casa de azúcar (The House Made of Sugar) by Silvina Ocampo through the lens of Gilbert Durand's theory of symbolic imagination. Ocampo is one of the most prominent figures in 20th-century Argentine fantasy literature. In her stories, she pays particular attention to the theme of identity. The dreams and obsessions that characterize her narrative permeate the everyday lives of her characters, who navigate the fine line between reality and fantasy. Ocampo employs symbols and metaphors to explore themes such as the human psyche, desires, fears, and the mysteries of existence. La casa de azúcar, included in the collection La furia (1959), centers on a newly married couple who purchase a house. Due to her superstitious beliefs, Cristina refuses to live in a place previously inhabited, as she believes the fate of former occupants will influence her life. However, her husband, the narrator, deceives her into moving in. Once they settle into the house, a series of strange events occur, and Cristina's personality gradually begins to change. The fate of the previous owner, Violeta, influences Cristina so deeply that she ultimately transforms into her. This study analyzes Cristina’s transformation, her husband’s behavior, and the symbolic elements expressed through the characters and setting, in terms of Durand’s opposition between diurnal and nocturnal regimes.