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From Z to Abc-Def-Ghi: Language, identity and different ideas of the American in Zama by Antonio Di Benedetto and El entenado by Juan José Saer

Abstract:

This paper works on two essential novels of Argentinian literature of the 20th Century, Zama by Di Benedetto (1956) and El Entenado (The Witness) by Saer (1983). The approach adopted draws a link between them from several ideas: the subject of language and the difficulties to understand the world; Otherness as an understanding element between two clashing Worlds, either in the “criollo topic” or the European witness of the Indian societies; sexuality as a way to approach the “mestizo” problem and the relationship between Society and Nature; the historical context to understand both stories.