Hijo de hombre

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Hijo de hombre (Son of Man, 1960) is a novel by the Paraguayan author, Augusto Roa Bastos

Roa Bastos' first published novel, Hijo de hombre represents his definitive break with poetry.[1]. It portrays the struggle between the governing élite and the oppressed in Paraguay from 1912 until just after the end of the Chaco War with Bolivia in 1936.[2] This novel draws upon a system of Christian metaphors as part of the Neobaroque concept of Magic Realism to examine the pain of being Paraguayan.[3] ‘’Hijo de Hombre’’ contrasts two figures: Miguel Vera and Christobal Jara. Vera narrates the odd chapters, although he might also be the narrator of all nine chapters (this is unclear).[2] . He is a well-to-do and educated romantic supporter of revolution, who is unable to take real action to support his ideals, and in the end betrays them (not unlike Judas).[4]. Jara, on the other hand, is an uneducated “son of man” who becomes a Christ-like leader for Paraugayan people through action and strength of character and will lead them to salvation. Although It was a massive critical success, Roa Bastos remained quite dissatisfied with the work for a number reasons.[1]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Foster 1978, p. 38
  2. ^ a b Foster 1978, p. 40
  3. ^ Marcos 1992, p. 487
  4. ^ Foster 1978, p. 39

[edit] References

  • Foster, David William (1978), Augusto Roa Bastos, Boston: Twayne Publishers, ISBN 0-8057-6348-1 .
  • Marcos, Juan Manuel (1992), “Paraguay”, in Foster, David William, Latin American Literature, vol. Second Edition, London: Garland, pp. 469-491, ISBN 0815303432 .


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Works by Augusto Roa Bastos
Novels:
Hijo de hombre (1960) · Yo, el Supremo (1974) · Vigilia del admirante (1992) · El fiscal (1993) · Contravida (1994)