Analysis of Mario Vargas Llosa’s Literary Works
Fiction
Student Strike
Reflects a student strike following imposed testing schedules. Amidst confrontations with teachers, a secret struggle between two student leaders unfolds. The strike fails, and Lu endures humiliation from the students. However, his rival offers a gesture of solidarity.
The Challenge
A questionable honor code prevents parental intervention as a boy fights for his life against another.
Day Sunday
Two teenagers compete for a girl’s attention with displays of masculinity, culminating in a dangerous swimming race. One nearly drowns, but the other abandons the competition to rescue him.
Older Brother
Two brothers hunt down an Indian believed to have assaulted their sister. Upon their return, the sister confesses her lie, prompting the younger brother to release other unjustly punished Indians.
The Visitor
With an atmosphere reminiscent of The Green House, this story depicts a web of betrayals. A man betrays his friend to soldiers, who are then abandoned by an informer.
Narrative Techniques
Besides third-person narration, three student narrators—Albert, Boa, and Jaguar—offer their unique perspectives, filtering reality through their individual perceptions.
Naturalist Realism
The critical portrayal of reality borders on naturalism. The oppressive atmosphere of the Leoncio Prado school shapes the students’ behavior, fostering violence and machismo as products of their militarized, prison-like education.
Puppies and The Green House
Bonifacia falls for Sergeant Lituma, leading to a temporary marriage. When Lituma is sent to Piura, he descends into debauchery. During his imprisonment, Bonifacia is seduced by one of his friends and forced into prostitution at The Green House. Nuns exploit natives with the aid of soldiers, introducing them to “civilization” as servants.
Social Criticism and Destiny
Exploitation is a dominant theme. The city sees sexual exploitation of women in brothels, mirrored in the jungle. The violent machismo is pervasive, with Bonifacia and the Sergeant’s relationship beginning with an assault.
Conversation in the Cathedral
Santiago Zavala, a journalist, and Ambrosio Pardo, his father’s former driver, reunite at a bar. Their conversation triggers fragmented memories and a sense of loss. Peru’s woes stem from moral corruption across social classes.
Santiago Zavala
Represents the troubled conscience of the Peruvian intellectual. He defies his family by attending San Marcos University. His political views clash with his social circle. He faces arrest, saved only by his father’s influence. Marrying a black woman becomes his final act of rebellion.
Ambrosio Pardo
Of mixed heritage, Ambrosio’s aspirations are limited by his background. As a police driver, he becomes desensitized to abuses. He later serves Santiago’s father but faces hardships, including his partner’s miscarriage, leading him to work at the pound.
Don Fermín
A seemingly respectable family man, Don Fermín hides his venality and political cynicism. He sexually abuses Ambrosio. His marriage to a black woman challenges his world.
Cayo Bermúdez
Rises within Odría’s government, using espionage and corruption to eliminate rivals. A sexually frustrated voyeur, he enjoys a luxurious exile funded by ill-gotten gains. Santiago narrowly avoids his followers thanks to his father’s intervention.
Hortensia Bermúdez
An alcoholic and drug-addicted prostitute used by Fermín. She attempts to blackmail him but is killed by Ambrosio out of loyalty.
Political Fiction
The novel offers a “political fiction” of the Odría regime, portraying oppressor-oppressed dynamics based on social prejudices. This highlights a sense of imposed social inevitability.
Pantoja and the Special Service
This story centers on a prostitution service for soldiers in the Peruvian jungle, organized by the seemingly exemplary Captain Pantaleon Pantoja. It shares themes with previous works, including the jungle setting (The Green House), criticism of military hierarchy (The City and the Dogs), and exploration of prostitution and sexual depravity.