EL DICTADOR EN LA NOVELA HISPANOAMERICANA by JUAN CARLOS GARCIA a Thesis Submitted in Conformity Witb the Requirements for the D
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EL DICTADOR EN LA NOVELA HISPANOAMERICANA BY JUAN CARLOS GARCIA A thesis submitted in conformity witb the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Phüosophy in the University of Toronto OCopyright by Juan Carlos Garcia, 1999 National Library Bibliothèque nationale 1*1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue Wellington Ottawa ON KlAON4 OnawaON K1AON4 canada canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence aiiowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or seil reproduire, prêter, disûibuer ou copies of this thesis in microfonn, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/fiim, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retauis ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts f?om it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or othenvise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. EL DICTADOR EN LA NOVELA HISPANOAMERICANA Juan Carlos Garcia 1999 Dedico esta investigacih a la persona mis paciente del mundo: a Glady, mi querida esposa. Agradezco profundamente al profesor Keith Ellis por sus atinadas observaciones sobre el contenido del texto, y por su paciencia. Agradezco, también, a los profesores Alan Gordon y Anthony Percival por la valiosisima ayuda que recibi de eiios. Biography Resumen en inglés Dissertation Abstract in English Resumen suplementario en ingiés Supplementary Abstract in English Capitulo Primero: El dictador en la poesia, el teatro, el cuento y el ensayo 23 - 55 Capitulo Segundo: El narracior en la narrativa del romanticismo: "El matadero" y Amab. 56 -81 Capitulo Tercero: El dictador en la novela del cosnirnbrismo regiondista: I~czmb~d e.82- 110 Capitulo Cuarto: El dictador en la novela moderna: Tirano y Eisih~ m.111 - 145 Capitulo Quinto: La noveia contemporariea del dictador: El otoiiio del patnaw~ E1r-y Yod-. 146-293. Conclusiones: 204 - 210 Bibliografia: 21 1 - 220 Born, Santiago, Chile. Diplorna: Prunary School Teacher. B.A.: Universidad Austral de Valdivia, Chile, Profesor de ensefianza secundaria de lengua y literatura castellana. M.A.: Queen's University, Ontario, Canada. Doctoral studies at the University of Toronto. Professor at Glendon College, York University. This dissertation analyzes the dictator in the Latin Amencan novel. The introduction defines the concept of dictator and emphasizes that withui the field of political science, he is seen as the concentrator of power, whle in the literary field he may be seen as one who is able to take cornrnand and create worlds according to hm own desires. The first chapter examines the ciictator's portrait in poetry, theatre, essays, and short stories, within which his appearance is sporadic. In general he is seen as a personality who embodies al1 that is negative and destructive. nie second chapter is dedicated to the study of the dictator in the narratives of Romanticism. in Eland Amab he is characterized as being a violent and intolerant statesrnan. This literature is expressed as a historicd novel in which the main objective of the author is to publicly denounce the abuses of the dictator. The third chapter focuses on the man with absolute power in literature referred to as costumbrismo regzonalista. Two main topics are discussed: the rascal derand the dramatic dictator. Special emphasis is placed on the well- portrayed drarnatic dictator in the novel la &a de1 caudillo. The principal objective of my study of ths novel is to reveal the methods of philosophical reflexion on abuses of power raîher than the political denouncement of them. In the fourth chapter the discussion leads to the modern novel. Tirano Banderas and depict the dictator as the main character. Characteristics are drawn fiom historicd facts but remain at a distance to allow the formation of a fictional figure. The dictator is presented as a cruel, cynical man, who is also somewhat refined and condescending. The fifi chapter examines the dictator in the contemporary novel. It îs characterized by the concentration of all power in his hands. The dictator controls his country politically, sociaily, economically, and cuituraily. Ws power is based rnainly on force, carried out by his anny, police, agents of espionage, and torturers. The principal contemporary novels of dictators are 1 otdo del El rrttcurço- and each of which has its own formd characteristics. The dictator is Mydeveloped in the Latin Amencan novel and appears sporadically in al1 other Literary genres. His capacity to give orders transcends the ordinary, permitting hirn to recreate the world, reflecting in it hs personal vision. The dictator is the der and the creator. This thesis discuses the iiterary characterization of the dictator in the Latin American novei. It examines the genre, beguining with its origins and ending in the nineteen seventies. The work consists of an introduction, five chapters and a conclusion. Also included a list of cited works. The introduction defuies the concept of a dictator. It emphasizes bat, historically in the political science field he is seen as the concentrator of power. In the literary field he may be seen as one who is able to take comrnand and create worlds according to his own desire. In the institutions of ancient Rome he was a tom leader (magisrer populi) eiected by villagers due to his wisdorn and common sense. He represented the interests and concems of the town people before the nobility. In the Roman Republic, he was a governent official narned by the Senate, and belonged to the nobility. Kis function was to assume complete responsibility for the afEairs of the state in the following circumstances: a naturd disaster, political crisis, war with other nations, or civil war. The legal status of the dictator, acquired in the Roman period, was maintained and consolidated throughout the formation of nations in Europe during the Middle Ages. He coexisted and competed with titles such as prince, king, despot and tyrant. The words déspota and iirano had a negative meaning in the Greek and Latin cultures and were interpreted similarly in the Spanish laquage. During the conquest and ensuing colonization of the Americas, the words assumed a specific connotation. They were interchangeably used for those who took power fiom appointed govemors, wanting to establish a personal dominion previously considered to be the iegitimate property of the Spanish Crown. The words applied only to rebels. The original meanings of the words rem after some time, being used to describe a person within whorn al1 the power of a nation is concentrated. Tyranr and despor serve to emphasize the cruel methods and iilegal aspects of his actions, whereas dicrûlor refers to one who acts within the laws of his nation in order to oppress its people. The introduction determines the Latin American novel's emergences in the transitional political period between Colonial Spanish America and it independence. The dictator, as a fictional character, is bom with the novel. From his beginnings as a character the dictator inspires two complementary modes of portrayal: historical and imaginay. Hïs profound links with both rural and urban life make up his historical background. The imaginas. characteristic is the result of the author's creative will. Chapter One: The dictator as a literary character is sporadicdy found in poetry, theater and essays, as well as short stories. In a poetic fonnat the dictator may be observed in such works as: La araucaria and in patriotic songs of the war for independence; in Romantic poems of national unity; in poems written in protest of the bourgeois and the imperialists of the early to middle twentieth century. This is especially evident in the poetry iinked to events such as the Spanish Civil War and, later, the Cuban Revolution, and the Vietnam War. In generd, Latin American poems describe the dictator as a negative force: destructive, cruel and bloodthirsty; sometimes he is a national of his country, sometimes a foreigner. tn theatre, the dictator is the divider of nations, the source of all eM1, and the cause of a tragic finale. During the Colonial era, the plays like Ejitremés and Ollanta associate the dictator with human misfortme. This trend continues in the -. , - Republican period and can be seen in works Wce Muaoz: ;El - * sargento kdro Y el Capitan. The Latin Amencan short story derives nom the sketch of customs (el cuadro de costumbres). Due to these descriptions filled with political expression, the dictator emerges as an important figure. There are three especiaily important stories: "El matadero", "Las fieras del Tropico" y "Los fimerales de la Marna Grande". The fist two are allegorical stories of actual dictators. The third example represents the typical mamarchal symbol of power. The three stories together characterize the omnipotent dictator. Essays, an explicit genre, link the character to the history of countries and their people. The most important is which describes and characterizes the dictator as a product of the barbarity in Latin America, in which mal life predomuiates over urban. The essay presents a world of irreconcilable opposition; extremes in which the dictator represents al1 negativity. Chapter Two: The second chapter examines the dictator in the Latin American Romantic Narrative. The Romantic Narrative has a definitive political quality, and a primarily denunciatory function; it represents a utilitarian literary tool with a main character whose power is absolute. Traces can be found in Jicotencal, which is precursor to the namatives of the dictator in the novels -0s del by .. Juana Manson and La,by byuana Manuela Gomti .