A Failed Link between Chilean Workers’ Subversive Past and Submissive Present in Diamela Eltit’s 'Mano de obra'
'Mano de obra' is one of the most studied novels written by the Chilean author Diamela Eltit (b. 1949). Scholars have paid particular attention to the novelʼs socioeconomic commentary at the level of the plot. They have not, however, conducted a close examination of how the novel expresses...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Latin American Research Review |
| Online Access: | https://larrlasa.org/articles/1090 |
| Summary: | 'Mano de obra' is one of the most studied novels written by the Chilean author Diamela Eltit (b. 1949). Scholars have paid particular attention to the novelʼs socioeconomic commentary at the level of the plot. They have not, however, conducted a close examination of how the novel expresses this criticism through its narrative form. Nor have they explored the relationship of the novelʼs literary techniques to the politico-cultural context that it portrays. This article engages in a close reading of the literary techniques that 'Mano de obra' employs to depict a certain social context. It also addresses some politico-cultural implications of the novelʼs narrative form in the context of Chileʼs contemporary society to demonstrate that the novel foregrounds a sense of pessimism and hopelessness about linking Chilean workers’ subversive past with their submissive present. Resumen 'Mano de obra' es una de las novelas más estudiadas de la escritora chilena Diamela Eltit (1949–). Los comentarios sobre esta obra han prestado especial atención a la crítica socioeconómica que esta presenta a nivel de su trama, sin llevar a cabo una examinación profunda de cómo lo hace a través de su forma narrativa. Ha quedado también si explorar la relación entre la técnica literaria de la novela y el contexto político-cultural representado por la obra. Este artículo realiza una lectura detallada de las técnicas narrativas que 'Mano de obra' emplea para retratar un cierto contexto social y cuestiona algunas implicancias político-culturales de la forma narrativa de la novela en el contexto de la sociedad chilena neoliberal de la postdictadura. El trabajo se propone demostrar que 'Mano de obra' resalta pesimismo y desesperanza en cuanto a la posible reconstrucción de una conexión entre un pasado obrero subversivo y su presente sometido. |
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| ISSN: | 1542-4278 |