El Señor Presidente Analysis: Themes, Characters, and Symbolism
El Señor Presidente: A Critical Analysis
Argument
The story begins at “The Portal of the Lord,” a gathering place for beggars, including the Zany. The Zany, deeply disturbed by the word “mother,” murders Colonel Joseph Parrales Smiling for uttering it. Following the crime, the Zany escapes, and the police coerce the beggars to falsely accuse General Eusebio Canales. Mosco, a beggar who refuses to lie, is killed by the Auditor of War.
Miguel Angel Face finds the Zany and brings him to a village. Angel Face informs the President, who orders General Canales’ escape, fearing the repercussions of imprisoning such a prominent figure. Angel Face seeks assistance from Lucio Vasquez to help Canales escape. Lucio and Genaro, another policeman, kill the Zany, claiming he had rabies. Lucio then aids Canales and his daughter Camilla in their separate escapes. Camilla and Angel Face seek refuge with her family but are rejected. Fedina, Genaro’s wife, visits Canales’ house but is arrested, tortured, and driven to madness when her son is threatened. Canales eventually escapes to the border with the help of smugglers.
A sorcerer advises Camilla to marry Angel Face for companionship, and she agrees. The President, who drove Camilla’s father to suicide, becomes their best man. Camilla and Angel Face gradually grow closer. At a party, they are humiliated by a fugitive relative, leading Angel Face to a bar where he encounters an American and the President’s supporters. Tired of their political discussions, Angel Face leaves and is taken to the presidential palace. The President reveals that the U.S. plans to withdraw financial support and tasks Angel Face with resolving the issue in Washington. Unconvinced but tempted by the reward, Angel Face agrees. Camilla, suspecting a trap, plans to feign illness and have Angel Face summoned back. However, Angel Face is arrested, tortured, and falsely informed that his imprisonment is due to Camilla being the President’s “impossible love.” Believing this lie, Angel Face dies of a heart attack. Camilla, after waiting in vain for letters from Washington, retreats to the countryside to rebuild her life.
Time and Historical Context
The novel begins in 1898 during the presidency of Manuel Estrada Cabrera, whose authoritarian regime lasted until 1920. Asturias critiques the cruelty and corruption of this dictatorship, drawing parallels to the oppression experienced by his own people.
About the Author: Miguel Angel Asturias
Miguel Angel Asturias, a Nobel laureate, is a prominent figure in magical realism. His works are deeply rooted in indigenous mythology and the struggles of peasants under colonial rule. Legends of Guatemala (1930) explores native myths and legends. El Señor Presidente (1946) portrays a Latin American dictator, employing grotesque and burlesque elements to expose the brutality of oppression. Men of Maize (1949), considered his masterpiece, delves into the injustices of colonial exploitation through the lens of magical realism. Asturias masterfully weaves Mayan mythology into his narratives, as seen in Mulata de Tal and Three of Four Suns, highlighting the syncretic culture of Guatemala. His works champion the voices of the marginalized and oppressed, resisting cultural genocide through the power of language.
Asturias continued exploring these themes in his “Banana Republic Trilogy”: Strong Wind (1950), The Green Pope (1954), and The Eyes of the Interred (1960). His lesser-known plays, such as Blackmail and Drydock (both 1964), also feature social criticism and dissent.
Main Themes
- Revenge: Characters are driven by a thirst for vengeance, often resorting to violence.
- Tyranny and Injustice: The novel exposes the abuses of power under the President’s dictatorial rule.
Secondary Themes
- Love and Loss
- Death and Mortality
- Hatred and Resentment
- Corruption and Abuse of Power
- Fear and Paranoia
- Suppression of Individual Rights
Main Characters
- Mr. President: The tyrannical ruler, obsessed with power and reelection.
- Miguel Angel Face: The President’s loyal henchman.
- Auditor General of War: Responsible for handling crimes, embodies the regime’s brutality.
- Camilla: Daughter of General Canales, caught in the crossfire of political intrigue.
Secondary Characters
The novel features a wide array of secondary characters, including beggars, policemen, politicians, and ordinary citizens, each contributing to the portrayal of a society living under a repressive regime. Some notable characters include the Zany, Mosco, General Eusebio Canales, Lucio Vasquez, Genaro Rodriguez, and Fedina.
Scope and Setting
- Geographical: While not explicitly stated, the setting is likely Guatemala. Specific locations include The Portal of the Lord, the prison, the brothel, and the presidential palace.
- Spiritual: The characters appear to be predominantly Catholic.
- Social: The novel depicts a society divided into distinct classes: the upper class, the lower class, and the marginalized beggars.
- Thrust of the Book: El Señor Presidente explores the consequences of tyranny and the impact of political violence on individuals and society as a whole.