An Isolated State of Mind: Seeking a Life in Exile A
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AN ISOLATED STATE OF MIND: SEEKING A LIFE IN EXILE A Dissertation by EMILY RENEE GRAVES Submitted to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Chair of Committee, Eduardo Espina Committee Members, Stephen Miller José Pablo Villalobos Edward Murguía Head of Department, María Irene Moyna August 2017 Major Subject: Hispanic Studies Copyright 2017 Emily R. Graves ABSTRACT This dissertation analyses the evolutionary condition of exile among three Hispanic poets through an examination of the historical, sociological, and psychological state of exile that develops from past struggles and continues with a will of survival found in the production of literary works. The poets selected for this study include Ida Vitale, Juan Gelman, and José Kozer. In order to comprehend the various depths of exile, this dissertation focuses not only upon the crisis that questions one’s individual and national identity, but also the recovery of one’s self through nostalgia and the reestablishment of a life within a state of exile. The importance of this study does not intend, in any way, to undermine the struggles and suffering that these writers withstood before, during, and after their experiences of exile from their native countries. In turn, one must completely encounter the profoundness of each writer’s struggle and treatment of exile. This study evaluates how each poet confronts the past through a daily evaluation of the individual self and a pursuing idealism that develops in the production of their writings. The significance of each writer’s experience of exile demonstrates an individual challenge to acquire understanding and acceptance of an isolated state through examining political/religious factors and sociological/psychological effects that hinder nostalgic memories of a past life and encourage recovery of one’s identity. ii DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this dissertation to my parents, my husband, Brandon, and daughter, Olivia. Your love and support have guided me from my first graduate course to the final chapters of this study. You, my family, are my homeland. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my professors at Texas A&M University for their encouragement and for creating an atmosphere that allowed me to succeed in this doctoral program. I would especially like to thank my director, Dr. Eduardo Espina, and all my committee members (Dr. José Villalobos, Dr. Stephen Miller, and Dr. Edward Murguia) for their support and patience over the many years it took to finish my dissertation. I will never forget the faith you placed in me and the objective of this project. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the three poets, José Kozer, Ida Vitale, and Juan Gelman, for serving as an inspiration to not only myself but to so many educators, poets, and exiled individuals. The sacrifices you have made while in exile will never be taken for granted and I hope to continue the passion of your poetry with my students in the future. iv CONTRIBUTORS AND FUNDING SOURCES This work was supervised by a dissertation committee consisting of Professor Eduardo Espina [Director] and Professor(s) Stephen Miller and José Pablo Villalobos of the Department of Hispanic Studies and Professor Edward Murguia of the Department of Sociology. All work for the dissertation was completed independently by the student. No outside funding was provided for this work. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................. ii DEDICATION .......................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................... iv CONTRIBUTORS AND FUNDING SOURCES ..................................................... v TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................... vi LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION .......................................................................... 1 CHAPTER II JOSÉ KOZER: SETTING POETRY IN MOTION ....................... 24 Voicing the Past, Present, and Future ................................................................. 27 Resistance and Resilience in Language .............................................................. 36 Strength in Re-creation ........................................................................................ 52 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 65 CHAPTER III IDA VITALE: NOSTALGIA FOR THE FUTURE ...................... 67 Nostalgia: A Poet’s Visualization of Time ......................................................... 72 Life in Exile is a Life in Transcendence ............................................................. 90 The Proper Attitude of the Intellectual ................................................................ 104 Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 119 CHAPTER IV JUAN GELMAN: POETRY: THE MONUMENTAL WOUND .. 121 A Dialogue with Exile ......................................................................................... 131 The Power of Defeat ........................................................................................... 141 Seeking Stability on Unstable Ground ................................................................ 151 CHAPTER V EXILE IN THE 21ST CENTURY .................................................. 168 CHAPTER VI CONCLUSION .............................................................................. 194 REFERENCES .......................................................................................................... 205 vi LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE Page 1 Map of Parque de la Memoria ....................................................................... 127 vii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION This dissertation introduces an analysis of the evolutionary condition of exile among a selection of three late 20th century and early 21st century Hispanic poets. It examines the sociological, psychological, and literary development from within a life in exile that perseveres and redefines a will and identity of survival in the production of their literary works. Rather than highlighting the negative implications following a writer’s experience of exile, this project refocuses upon the redirection and reestablishment of a life within a state of exile, individual approaches to nostalgia, and the continual pursuit towards a meaning and understanding of the realm of isolation. The writers selected for this study include José Kozer (Cuba, 1940–), Ida Vitale (Uruguay, 1923–), and Juan Gelman (Argentina, 1956–2014). The importance of this study does not intend, in any way, to undermine the struggles and suffering that these authors withstood before, during, and after their experiences of exile from their native countries. In turn, one must appreciate the profoundness of each writer’s struggle and treatment of exile in order to comprehend the manner in which each poet confronts the past and envisions a future through a daily evaluation of the individual self and a pursuit to engage their intellect productively, rather than settling within the limits of an isolated state. These literary figures have been chosen from three Hispanic countries so that one may observe varying degrees of the cause of exile and the repercussions that characterize 1 each author and his or her successive works. The significance of each writer’s experience of exile demonstrates an individual challenge to acquire understanding and acceptance of an isolated state through examining political/religious factors and sociological/psychological effects that hinder nostalgic memories of a past life and encourage recovery of one’s identity. The poets José Kozer, Ida Vitale, and Juan Gelman represent noteworthy examples of writers that (1) approach nostalgia with a concern for the future; (2) assume a deviant role that either promotes change of intellectual thought and defense of human rights as opposed by the norms of their native country; (3) allow themselves to re-approach their life in exile by means of poetic creation with a call for intellectual and self-enhancement. While researching the influences of each poet, one observes that Kozer, Vitale, and Gelman are all accomplished readers of numerous writers around the world. These literary influences play an essential role that permits a crucial extension of what defines exile and how each poet faces the challenges of self- identification, social relations, and poetic inspiration. Kozer explains: No sigo (hubiera sido fácil seguir esa línea recta) con poetas de América Latina o España, sino que leo a Baudelaire, a Rimbaud, a Verlaine. Eso es un fenómeno que tiene que ver con mi época, una época en que los latinoamericanos nos ubicábamos en París . Bueno, la literatura latinoamericana y española eran para la clase, cosas del colegio, del aburrimiento y la “matanza” escolar. Pero la literatura francesa, Sartre y Camus, Baudelaire y Verlaine, Flaubert y Maupassante eran para la calle, eran de la calle. (Zapata 174) 2 Vitale tells of her experiences as she states: I think that our literature is all literature. I