Masquerade and Social Justice in Contemporary Latin American Fiction

"Contemporary Latin American fiction establishes a unique connection between masquerade, frequently motivated by stigma or trauma, and social justice. Using an interdisciplinary approach that combines philosophy, history, psychology, literature, and social justice theory, this study delineates the synergistic connection between these two themes. Weldt-Basson examines fourteen novels by twelve different Latin American authors: Mario Vargas Llosa, Sergio Galindo, Augusto Roa Bastos, Fernando del Paso, Mayra Santos-Febres, Isabel Allende, Carmen Boullosa, Antonio Benítez-Rojo, Marcela Serrano, Sara Sefchovich, Luisa Valenzuela, and Ariel Dorfman. She elucidates the varieties of social justice operating in the plots of contemporary Latin American novels: distributive, postmodern/feminist, postcolonial, transitional, and historical justices. The author further examines how masquerade and disguise aid in articulating the theme of social justice, why this is important, and how it relates to Latin American history and the historical novel. "-- Provided by publisher "Contemporary Latin American fiction establishes a unique connection between masquerade, frequently motivated by stigma or trauma, and social justice. Using an interdisciplinary approach that combines philosophy, history, psychology, literature, and social justice theory, this study delineates the synergistic connection between these two themes. Weldt-Basson examines fourteen novels by twelve different Latin American authors: Mario Vargas Llosa, Sergio Galindo, Augusto Roa Bastos, Fernando del Paso, Mayra Santos-Febres, Isabel Allende, Carmen Boullosa, Antonio Benítez-Rojo, Marcela Serrano, Sara Sefchovich, Luisa Valenzuela, and Ariel Dorfman. She elucidates the varieties of social justice operating in the plots of contemporary Latin American novels: distributive, postmodern/feminist, postcolonial, transitional, and historical justices. The author further examines how masquerade and disguise aid in articulating the theme of social justice, why this is important, and how it relates to Latin American history and the historical novel. "-- Provided by publisher Front Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction: Masquerade and Literature -- 1. Disguise and Distributive Justice: "La comparsa" by Sergio Galindo and "El paraíso en la otra esquina" and "Travesuras de la niña mala" by Mario Vargas Llosa -- 2. Postmodern Justice: Ethical Feminism in Isabel Allende's "Hija de la fortuna," Antonio Benítez-Rojo's "Mujer en traje de batalla," Marcela Serrano's "Nuestra señora de la soledad," and Sara Sefchovich's "La señora de los sueños"--3. Postcolonial Structural Justice: Isabel Allende's "Zorro" and Carmen Boullosa's "Duerme"--4. Allegories of Transitional Justice: Masquerade in "Novela negra con argentinos" by Luisa Valenzuela and "Máscara" by Ariel Dorfman -- 5. Historical Justice: Masquerade and Trauma in Augusto Roa Bastos's "El fiscal," Mayra Santos-Febres's "Fe en disfraz," and Fernando del Paso's "Noticias del imperio" -- Conclusion: Why Study Masquerade? -- Notes -- Works Cited -- Index -- Back Cover Front Cover Title Page Copyright Contents Acknowledgments Introduction: Masquerade and Literature 1. Disguise and Distributive Justice: "La comparsa" by Sergio Galindo and "El paraíso en la otra esquina" and "Travesuras de la niña mala" by Mario Vargas Llosa 2. Postmodern Justice: Ethical Feminism in Isabel Allende’s "Hija de la fortuna," Antonio Benítez-Rojo’s "Mujer en traje de batalla," Marcela Serrano’s "Nuestra señora de la soledad," and Sara Sefchovich’s "La señora de los sueños" 3. Postcolonial Structural Justice: Isabel Allende’s "Zorro" and Carmen Boullosa’s "Duerme" 4. Allegories of Transitional Justice: Masquerade in "Novela negra con argentinos" by Luisa Valenzuela and "Máscara" by Ariel Dorfman 5. Historical Justice: Masquerade and Trauma in Augusto Roa Bastos’s "El fiscal," Mayra Santos-Febres’s "Fe en disfraz," and Fernando del Paso’s "Noticias del imperio" Conclusion: Why Study Masquerade? Notes Works Cited Index Back Cover Using an interdisciplinary approach that combines philosophy, history, psychology, literature, and social justice theory, this study delineates the synergistic connection between masquerade and social justice in Latin American fiction