Isaac J. Barrera, a noted scholar of Ecuadorian literature, succinctly described the nineteenth-century Liberal essayist, Juan Montalvo, in this way. "Two completely different aspects exist in the intellectual personality of Montalvo, that of the elegant, traditional writer ... and that of the terrible polemicist, possessing a scathing pen [and] ignited rage." Indeed, it was Montalvo's "scathing pen" and "ignited rage" combined with his exceptional mastery of the Castillian language which distinguished his writing from that of other Ecuadorian reformers. Yet, the Ecuadorian's insulting polemics and violent rhetoric encouraged and perpetuated an already existing "culture of revolution" in Ecuador. Indeed, the eyes of the country seemed fixed on Montalvo. He was at the center of Ecuadorian political thought and he personified the hope of those of radical opinion. For example, in 1875, after reading The Perpetual Dictator, his polemical pamphlet directed against the tyrannical practices of then Ecuadorian President, Gabriel Garcia Moreno, three of Montalvo's disciples assassinated the Dictator. Montalvo, believing he now had proof of the power of his words, exclaimed, "No doubt my ideas took root; ... it is my pen that killed him."This thesis will examine three aspects of Juan Montalvo and the culture of revolution in Ecuador. The second chapter entitled, "'It is My Pen that Killed Him!': The Assassination of Garcia Moreno," will examine Montalvo's rhetoric of violence and its results. Chapter three, "Montalvo as Icon: Nationalism, Personalism and Rebellion," will explore how a nation's heroes influence the cultural and revolutionary flavor of the particular region or country. The fourth chapter, "Indoctrination of the Innocent: Montalvo in Education," will analyze how the culture of revolution has not only penetrated Ecuadorian education but is perpetuated through the education of the Ecuadorian youth.This investigation will also provide supplemental awareness of Montalvo's general motives as well as a representative sketch of a nineteenth-century, Latin American liberal. An understanding of this Ecuadorian is also necessary for related research regarding other twentieth-century, Spanish speaking authors, such as Miguel Unamuno, for whom Montalvo was an influential figure. Furthermore, a clear assessment of Montalvo, and the forces against which he fought, portrays Latin American authoritarianism and personalism and reflects the social and religious mentality of the Ecuadorian elite and middle class in the nineteenth century. Despite Montalvo's influential position in Ecuador and his worldwide reputation as an opponent of tyranny and defender of liberty, only a few select passages of his writings have been translated into English. Likewise, English language scholarship on Montalvo is sorely lacking; most of the few existing articles are sparse, replete with errors, and tailored to a popular audience. / Department of History