This dissertation examines the literary and political significance of the Argentine writer Leopoldo Lugones (1874-1938). Part One provides an account of Lugones’ reputation, largely from the point of view of his critics. He has often been accused of ideological contradictions. Initially labeled as a passionate socialist, he went on to advocate liberalism; in his final years, he became a staunch defender of hierarchy and political order. As a result, the contemporary image of Lugones is associated with Argentina’s complicated historical experience with military coups and dictatorships. He is pictured as a man who favored strong government, the coercion of political opponents, the restriction of individual liberties, and the use of systematic imprisonment and torture. Consequently, he has been judged as a figure who leans toward fascism and populism.
Complicating the issue of Lugones’ reception is the fact that he might have suffered from mental instability. Among other things, it has been suggested that he was overly “sensitive.” Part Two suggests that this so-called “sensitivity” not only served as a pre-condition for his social consciousness, but that it also provided unique personal insight throughout his literary and political trajectory. After reviewing a substantial number of Lugones’ early writings, it is argued that he developed a philosophy of history. Just as Nietzsche felt that after “God had died,” major political consequences could follow, Lugones thought that he was living through a period of decay, not material and social in nature, but spiritual.
Part Three presents a view of Lugones’ political project as he envisions himself as Argentina’s national writer. The political landscape he paints follows a populist approach, proposing an ideology that leans towards the mythic, the ultimate goal being the political unity of a people for the sake of “individual liberty.”
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/43308 |
| Date | 06 November 2021 |
| Creators | Vinces, Mike |
| Contributors | Lopes de Barros, Rodrigo |
| Source Sets | Boston University |
| Language | Spanish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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