Symbolism of the Shadows in Son of Man by Roa Bastos

• 作者: Patricia G. Montenegro
• 来源期刊: 文化与宗教研究：英文版
• 学科: 社会科学
• 关键词: Paraguay Dr. Rodriguez de Francia dictatorship surrealism myth CHACO War Annunciation bornagain halo
• 年，卷（期）: 2015,（4）
• 页码范围: 185-200
• 页数: 16页
• 分类号: G0

摘要

In his novel Son of Man, Augusto Roa Bastos uses images and symbols of shadows to represent the ramifications ofthe Paraguayan Dr. Jose Rodriguez de Francia＇s dictatorship. Rodriguez de Francia＇s legacy, which begins duringthe postcolonial years and extends well into the 20th century, resonates in the novel in soeio-political structures andcharacters＇ ideologies and behaviors. It allows for plantation owners to enslave workers and their families; itconfines and oppresses people through unfounded legends and myths; and among other things, it creates a falseidea of purpose and patriotism in the Chaco War （1932-1935）, which in the end lets down the soldiers. Tocounteract these deleterious social conditions, Roa Bastos creates surreal characters, such as a fantastic helper whoaids plantation workers to escape dehumanizing situations. Roa Bastos also narrates how the people in Itapr, asmall town, make an idol of a Christ statue carved by one of their own. However, when the two Goiburfl brothersreplace the statue by crucifying their sister＇s rapist, the people＇s myth is destroyed. Likewise, Roa Bastos availshimself of Christian and Catholic concepts and symbols to transpose them into a humanistic ideology so as toconvey hope to his people through a new perspective. In this way, a new Annunciation takes place when the son ofa raped woman is born. In the end, Roa Bastos lets the course of these warped transpositions take their logicaldenouement： In the absence of a purpose beyond an earthly existence, death becomes the narrator＇s option.