In her essay “Postcolonialism and Latin American literature: the case of Carlos Fuentes“ Nadia Lie describes two different currents of Postcolonialism: the first one is the literature that grew out of colonial experience in Latin America and is considered an answer to the over present literature of the oppressing European literary traditions. The second one is characterized by a set of theoretical concerns and reading strategies. Rather than merely “writing back“, a term introduced by Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths and Helen Tiffin, this approach suggests that cultural differences are constructed by replacing the strong binary opposition “us“ versus “the other“ with concepts of hybridity, in-betweenness and border thinking (see Lie 2005: 139-140).
The early work of Mexican author Carlos Fuentes (*1928) can be seen in an intermediate position between these two concepts. Even though the theme of otherness and opposition is very present in his work, as can be seen in La frontera de cristal (1995) and his early novel Aura (1962), his writing is full of intertextual references that show his appreciation for both European and Latin American literary tradition. As part of the “Boom“ movement in Latin American literature he also uses supernatural and gothic elements that sometimes make it hard or even impossible to distinguish between reality and illusion:
According to this aesthetic, unreal things are treated as if realistic and mundane, and mundane things as if unreal. Plots, while often based on real experiences, incorporate strange, fantastic, and legendary elements, mythical peoples, speculative settings, and characters who, while plausible, could also be unreal, and combine the true, the imaginary, and the nonexistent in such a way that they are difficult to separate. (Pope 1996: 229)
Fuentes‘ novel Aura is an early example of this tradition. The purpose of this essay will be a postcolonial approach to the novel, showing Fuentes‘ position in the discourse of postcolonial identities and literatures. The argument will be based on notions of time, space and intertextual references that can be found in Aura.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Aura: A Boom novel
- Postcolonial Key Elements
- Hybrid identities and intertextual references
- Deconstructing notions of time and space
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay provides a postcolonial analysis of Carlos Fuentes’ novel Aura, exploring his position within the discourse of postcolonial identities and literature. The essay focuses on elements such as time, space, and intertextual references within Aura, arguing that these elements reveal the novel’s hybrid nature and its engagement with postcolonial themes.
- Hybridity and Identity
- Intertextuality and Literary Tradition
- Deconstruction of Time and Space
- Postcolonial Literature and "Magic Realism"
- Latin American Literary Identity
Chapter Summaries
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of postcolonialism in Latin American literature, focusing on the work of Carlos Fuentes. It discusses the two main currents of postcolonialism, "writing back" and "hybridity," and positions Fuentes' work as a blend of both. The chapter sets the stage for the essay's focus on Aura and its postcolonial elements.
- Aura: A Boom novel: This chapter explores the characteristics of the "Boom" movement in Latin American literature, highlighting its influence on Fuentes' work. It describes the movement's break from European literary conventions, its emphasis on “lo real maravilloso,” and its development of a unique Latin American identity. The chapter then contextualizes Aura within this movement, focusing on its use of magic, gothic elements, and blurred boundaries between reality and illusion.
- Postcolonial Key Elements: This chapter delves into the core postcolonial elements of Aura. It explores the concept of hybrid identities and intertextual references, examining how Fuentes blends European and Latin American literary traditions to create a unique narrative. The chapter also discusses the author's rejection of the traditional notion of authorship, blurring the lines between creator and character.
Keywords
This essay primarily focuses on Carlos Fuentes' Aura, analyzing its postcolonial aspects through the lens of hybrid identities, intertextuality, time, space, and “Magic Realism.” The study examines the novel’s relationship to the Latin American “Boom” movement and its contribution to the development of a distinct Latin American literary identity.
- Citation du texte
- Antonia Lilie (Auteur), 2011, Postcolonial concepts of hybridity and identity in Carlos Fuentes‘ "Aura" , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/187587
