Feminine Consciousness in the Narrative of Maria Luisa Bombal and Angela Nunez Hernandez
Date
2008-12
Authors
Ladd-Hill, Tess
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Abstract
<p>The purpose of this investigation is to explore the writing of Ángela Hernández Núñez and María Luisa Bombal, set apart by country and time periods. Hernández is situated within post-Boom contemporary literature of the Dominican Republic and Bombal is situated within pre-Boom vanguardist literature of Chile. Bombal and Hernández share a deep desire to recover, recreate, and redefine the female existence as portrayed through the protagonists of their stories. Bombal is grouped with an earlier generation of surrealists. Hernández is a contemporary writer who shares some of Bombal’s characteristics. Indeed, surrealist nuances can be seen in the work of both Bombal and Hernández.</p>
<p>The works and respective protagonists under consideration in this study are: then anonymous protagonist of La última niebla, Ana María of La amortajada, and Brígida in “El árbol,” by Bombal, and Faride of “Cómo recoger la sombra de las flores,” Elba in “Más allá,” and Teresa Irene in “Teresa Irene,” by Hernández.</p>
<p>In this study, I will explore how Bombal and Hernández use dreams and fantasies as guides for their protagonists to achieve identity and autonomy. The protagonist, whose name is never mentioned, of Bombal’s La ultima niebla and Faride of Hernández’s “Cómo recoger la sombra de las flores” flee their realities and create illusions of imaginary love affairs through which they are able to enrich their unsatisfying lives.
These two protagonists are alienated and as a result withdraw and escape into the world of their imaginations. Besides exploring similar themes of alienation, I will also discuss shared themes on death and liberation. In addition, I will elaborate on how the interior world of each protagonist is bound up with natural elements. Having strong connections with nature forms a part of their identities mid allows them to bridge their two realities, the real world and their constructed, imaginary worlds. A conflict between the real world and the world of dreams and fantasy pushes the protagonists to resolve their conflicts in different ways. Some abandon their fantasy. Some unite with nature.</p>
Description
Keywords
Women authors, Females, Chile, Dominican Republic, Literature
Citation
Ladd-Hill, T. (2008). <i>Feminine consciousness in the narrative of Maria Luisa Bombal and Angela Nunez Hernandez</i> (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, Texas.