The Disenchantments of Love I

I felt that I had read the story of Isabel/Zelima before, but I couldn't remember where. While I was captivated by the story I found myself getting frustrated with Isabel for making the same mistakes over and over again. The Code of Honor that she values so highly seems to make things worse for her. It is because of her "honor" that she pursues don Manuel after he has left Zaragoza (or so she claims). Even after he has lied to her and betrayed her so many times, she follows him with the intention of reclaiming him as her lover. How can she truly believe that he will be reformed? But then she also claims that she is pursuing him to seek vengeance. She tells Luis that he should not kill don Manuel because "even though don Manuel is treacherous and false, my life depends on his. I must regain my lost honor...". I don't understand her logic.
However she does seem at times to be aware of her own foolishness, saying that when don Manuel pacifies her she is pleased but does not entirely believe him. Yet she still allows herself to be deceived.

She seems to control most situations but how she uses this power/talent is unfortunate because it only causes her further misery. At the end she finally decides to go to a convent and take God on as a husband. While I cannot say I would do the same thing, I don't understand why she didn't do this in the first place, if this were the only way to preserve her honor.

Her goal by telling the story is to warn women against trusting men and trusting flattery. Which I think she makes more than apparent with the numerous times she falls for don Manuel's lies. "Woe be to all ill-advised and credulous women who let themselves be overcome by lies so well adorned that their glitter lasts only as long as does the appetite!"

As far as this work being considered anti-feminist or 'poor feminism' I don't think that this is the case. I think that the story shows how women can be manipulated by men because of their lower social status due to sexist society. What might make the story seem anti-feminist is how Isabel fits into the stereotype of an overly emotional, unreasonable woman. At the beginning she has the reason and respect of a man but when she starts doing ridiculous things to pursue a man who has already proven himself to be "evil", she discredits herself and her sex.

All this being said, love makes people do stupid things, especially forgiving those who they love for any and all transgressions.