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Poliglosia poetica: las voces multiples de Roque Dalton
Abstract
In response to the increasing violence of the social and political struggle in El Salvador, a number of socialist poets committed themselves and their poetry to furthering the cause of social justice. Roque Dalton was one of those poets who accepted the dictum that true poetry must aim at producing change. Their experimentation moved them toward a new poetic style and theory, which are still in the process of development. Among the discernible features of the new poetic voice are an increased reliance on the language of the people and a commitment to choose poetic themes that represent the needs and concerns of the people. In short, this poetry is an instrument intended to participate in the class struggle. Consequently, political repression, exploitation and injustice are among the themes explored in this poetry. Attitudes and customs are examined, too, in order to see how they can hinder or promote progress. A characteristic of Dalton's poetry is the multiple levels of interpretation which it is capable of evoking. He often achieves depth by a technique which requires the reader to supply missing links or to reconcile contradictions. This technique allows for multiple interpretations at differing levels of sophistication and complexity. Dalton's tone is very often strongly ironic, yet it may be simultaneously tender. He is exceedingly critical of Christianity as it is practiced, yet Christianity and its symbolism and vocabulary are an important part of Dalton's diction. Love is an important theme in his poetry, but he frequently masks it in a kind of humorous exaggeration. Dalton is willing to face up to the contradictions and inadequacies which are caused by conflicting ideologies within the revolutionary movement, and he uses these conflicts to heighten the force of his message. Dalton's socialist convictions lead him to insist on the necessity of armed conflict in order to overthrow the existing exploitative and repressive social order. This message is clearly expressed in his poetry.
Subject Area
Latin American literature
Recommended Citation
Williams, Owen R, "Poliglosia poetica: las voces multiples de Roque Dalton" (1992). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9233420.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9233420