Subtextuality in Elena Poniatowska's Hasta no verte Jess mo Author(s): Claudette Williams Source: Hispania, Vol. 77, No.

2 (May, 1994), pp. 215-224 Published by: American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/344480 . Accessed: 06/09/2013 17:13
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construction her self-representation, uring of thethe identity last which of two the appears decades protagonist-narrator on the critical surface

to Jesusa men be coherent in and Elena women and Poniatowska's transparent. who live testimonial and die novel without Hasta

215

Subtextual Hasta

ity no

in

Elena verte

Poniatowska's Jesus Williams in mio

Claudette lilnivers'i/y of/he WesI

Indies,

Kings/on,

Jamaica

Abstract

This

study

employs Such

a critical analysis

approach exposes

grounded

in psychoanalytical ambiguous,

theory "silent,"

to explore or hidden

the complex elements

no verteJesas mlo (1969).

the contradictory,

Key

Words: ego

Mexican

novel,

20th

century,

Poniatowska

(Elena),

Jesusa

Palancares,

Lacan,

psychoanalytical

theory,

and unconscious,

subtextuality

attention women

has writers

turned

increasingly America

to

hope, and Gale lights version

trapped political Chevigny, Jesusa's

in the oppression on role

eternal

cycle (Davis

of poverty 227). hand, Bell highofficial 55). focused gender, appreciacovered by the a its not of exsi-

in Spanish issues

and work. Luisa Elena be

the

articulation Along with

of gender Isabel of Allende Argentina,

in their and

the

other

of Chile Mexico's might of

as rewriter history novel that genre

of the (Chevigny have or and have offered to

Valenzuela Poniatowska an women Has/a on no material

of Mexican of this of

is part emerging writers. verle

of what canon Her mio in from of

well on have is of she of a

Readings issues tended Although

termed

Spanish

social-class, to be these illustrative

American novel based

testimonial (1969) a series which the life

Jesus

tiveA

analyses ground attempt for

gathered

important work, coherent meaning. plore lence the and they

critical mainly framework In the

tape-recorded produced real working name narrator

interviews, a written class version Mexican

establish

understanding they do areas the and relationship unconscious which of

woman

whose and who

process, subtext-the

fictional is the

isJesusa of the

Palancares story. interest story

novel's

contradiction, the conscious

Poniatowska's feminist cation guided cesses.' ject of appeal the

declared of Jesusa's ideological interview presumably that allowed woman, that would and

in is an

the mdithat pro-

between motives can

of the

protagonist-narrator, the complex identity.3 this "hidden" to refer process

imperative editorial her emerge

elucidate

con-

the She

struction In order sion theories of human of the

of her

prompted her an to

subas

to explore noVel, the

dimento the

in ways

it is useful nature and

a non-traditional consideration analysis of the

extra-textual a gender Has/a no from in of its

about

development by based the French on notion by his of

justify

subjectivity Jacques Lacan as

elaborated Lacan posits constituted

novel. is open

However, to interpretation For

psychoanalyst reading the human the of Freud.

ven'eJesuismio a variety addition subversion acter terms. testimony, testimony can As be of to

perspectives. the feminist

example,

subject ego

a split the

implications norms, Jesusa's

between unconscious functions

(consciousness) desire). is to provide

and One the

of gender understood out not

char-

(repressed of the with the an ego ego

of the human self-

in socio-economic by Poniatowska, so, her is the

pointed albeit of

subject image; order

illusorily "misrecognizes" its

integrated itself. the

consciously of Latin

In ego

millions

American

to

maintain

dominance

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the is to current be distingnished view of the from human the individual 'I' that

doesas

will-power: la vida.... Si no comia,

pensaba:

Bueno,

pues

al cabo

in her or ignores represses 216 HISPANIA 77 MAY 1994 must conscious to disrupt constantiy impulses the repress that imaginary the

self-representa-

domination:

"Por

eso

yo

soy

sola,

porque

no

refractory threaten of

un-

Jesusa narrator: she and is also

is

a "self-reflexive" her with authority she life

protagonistexperiences herself narrato reMe from

constantiy unity

in recounting concerned the so doing to that

the

defining of her attempts of vision

individual's

selfhood. theory center of of self the has and displaced has postuin that subto of the disthe (49). discontithe 'I' that 'I') it

establishing voice. the she light aspects the unity In reader appears Her

Psychoanalytical the lated human functions liminal Lacan, concrete posal continuity The nuity the linguistic is that subject of ego the as the

tive strict which

primacy behaviour,

unconscious the and fact deeply According is that part

angle (254) in a unified,

non-contradecido conthe teniendo and to prehago.... que is outstandla pero often Cosa as when takes she

despite

dictory flicting serve ing.

will of her

to harmonize character

at imperceptible levels "the of the psyche.

of her vicio.selfhood

unconscious
...

discourse the subject

that in

is not

at the

Jesusa's the boasts form of of her

re-establishing discourse" of this of the (the self

self-representation hay self-affirmation, incredible no

of his

conscious

nunca strength: beber,

implications in speaking pronounces

..yo

era fuerte,

de de por si soy fuerte.

Ya mi

naturaleza

perceived

the This

pronouncing revisioning

(the of

'I' that

perceives). has led to

subjectivity

de ala necesidad estft acostumbrado hacer, fuerte.... a dejar mine) (109, emphasis yo no tengo hambre. y voluntad of her assertsmuy the magnitude She likewise es asi. El cuerpo volver

not plural

coherent and

and

harmonious

but

rather

a pelear voluntad Yo que tengo nunca lavoy buena cost6 dejar de

contradictory. of the identity of Has/a terms that her ego and no charverle

An acter Jesus the

examination of info the

protagonist

in psychoanalytical realities

reveals either She expresses her strong will to resist

subliminal

tion. ter that terms scious the

Displacing of critical her

the focus

Jesusa's and

ego

as the the only by her

cen-

me She

gusta maintains face

que

me this

gobierne resistance domination:

nadie" most

(153). stoutiy

resisting

notion in the con-

character

is intelligible it is constructed it possible by her

in the

of male

in which self complex and makes

to demonstrate which identity. she This both criti-

process reveals exposes or presents hidden itself

Como si eso fueabusivos. son siempre Los hombres de los mexicaEsa es la enfermedad ra ser hombre. nos: creer que son muy charros porque se nos montan encima. yeguas Y se equivocan mansas. (177-78) porque no todas somos sus

conceals cal

approach

the elements as

contradictory, in coherent a narraand

ambiguous tive that

This old

rebellious age: no "Con me she and and her individuals as and in

spirit todo dejo y de

endures lo los vieja

even que

in

her

transparent. Poniatowska tagonist sion to of afford who has projects created a very The unmediated provides which to the a narrator-procredible novel illuappears access the center is The ego. the that the the world work. to

estoy, (213). of inself-acto of by

todavia

hombres" her spirit her and is

In addition, dependence ceptance emphasize those society, Manuel (186-88). On some

underlines self-reliance,

self-effacement. the psyche. reader Jesusa through and narrative filtered is

resilience, liberal

careful

Jesusa's of

understanding deviants the homosexual Don Lucho

consciousness

reality reader.

considered the the case of

constructed entire Hers story controls view and is is

centered point the from

on

her which

transvestite

the told, the

vantage hers

consciousness hers are

occasions, about She lays herself no

however, appear claim to

Jesusa's to be goodness, self-

discourse; that

declarations criticism.

sensitivity

inform

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rdditos, cuenta que that confessing, me she soy porque hace, is rencorosa, in exceedingly her me en wryly eso la paga. de hasta humorous vengeful: los odios Y las con cachas. manner, soy "Por todomuy mi El y

biera Pedro que colm6 por si, me dejado se no el yo mate volvi6 plato desde me de daba de ya mfts Pedro chica una me oportunidad.... bueno vez." dije fui hasta claramente: mala, Si desde que yo asi no me que naci, fuera Cuando matara. lo "Me balacid.... terrible, mala defiendo Pedro (101) me pero hume Deo

"Bueno,

relativamente

mientras mfts se deja uno, mfts SUBTEXTUALITY IN ELENA PONIATOW5KA'S

HASTA

NO VERTE JESUS

MIG 217

enquelitadas.

(154)

For

Lacan,

speech

and,

in

particular,

usurera" ment "Yo muy past vibora" austerity admitted: gusta seco. muy la on era

(197). her un

She

passes towards muy and hers harshness

negative

judgeSuch lated on who statements irony complicity both know of underlying ambignity so that what that are depends between that the she ironic of expressions for of

imthe susespecalcu-

tendency animal (161), that The her

aggression: una yegua of vida de her la

bruto, in

arisca" she notes (177). of

speaking "la and are

its effectiveness the narrator and reader narrator says means the

was

emotional frankly no sido nadie. (282). identity terms. others conin me muy Soy

opposite This

character no Mi soy

also

But about herself. reality, question intent resolves the and self-

"Yo gente. me

querendona, ha con fuerte" of her

apparent self-criticism, deprecatory imaginary As the

canicter

these

self-affirmation of to ostensibly

Nunca regaiXona,

aquerenci hablo muy much and

Jesusa both Her stantiy cially not

constructs

do not violate the self-constructed of Jesusa's self-image. woman. seek putative source of truth, Jesusa unity for

statements

oppositional comparisons underscore insistent only different women, for the woman so well in in

hierarchical with

constructs alterable brief is to role

of herself difference. her from and

She that

is espeshe

assertion but she also

herself an essential and unversion this With the exception of the will period when she admits to playing the her of the submissive, abused wife of Pedro identity. she of strives image as to maintain a woman the integrity with a In to about she a

superior

Aguilar, of her

traditional tempt Mexican scribes Desde

expresses of the

conpassive Paz de-

endowed domination. response employer

stereotype (which

Octavio

Ellaberinlo delasoledaa):
se me quit6 lo tarugo. pues Dije: eso y burras

inclination to resist reader reporting reinforces her stepmother's non-traditional complaint made byJesusa's the latter's further the recalcitrance even

"genetic"

as a child,

que vine a Mdxico

la arruinan." mfts se

Y las que se sigan que las

dejando,

merecen,

pongan

como

age: "Pues asi picious truth-value of dejarse" (59-60).

es,

seiXora.

Naci6

para

no

In other about herself

cales los instances take that One the Jesusa's form into declarations of mi selfque con oblique selfironic represenlas tenia and ob-

what of

it silences, psychoanalysis. that kind

is the

fundamental He characterizes "where about

medium as the sub-

"empty" ject one can seems who, never

of speech talking were one

deprecation affirmation. tation servation defecto en of her as

translates example

to be even

in vain his with

someimage,

is her

if he

splitting the

powers

of perception

become (45). be

assumption of They

a "shortcoming": todo lo que (161). comparison oigo

de que

de tengo "yo el Yo melosa se me queda impulse with

of his herself succeed and impose

desire" may in

Jesusa's in an

descriptions this light. of

viewed

el pensamiento" her Adelina: Adelina era

A Era similar of muy no. herself

creating

illusion

candour and

underlies DoiXa Dofta

comprehensive an image

self-knowledge, of the speaker as

a model

una seftora yo verdad hombres.... gustan los bufidos de los rftcter y no me dejaba de nadie. (173-74) clientes y la mera

cially ing

the and

adequacy self-representation.

of her

self-understand-

Through inverted submissive traditional

irony pride

she in her

also rejection

expresses of the thereby woman: role

an of the of

By the

probing novel into

beneath and her

the

textual

surface siwe identity

integrating narcissistic a version

Jesusa's discourse, of her

wife, model

subverting of the "good"

lences are able

to produce

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view sciousness process,

of

her Poniatowska interlocutor

plays to an express active

prieta tion of que the yo. Indian Yo

tengo side

la of cara her

quemada ancestry.

del In

218 that

HI5PANIA is

77 MAY 1994 less displacement of truth coherent than of her becomes the ego she as the unified in the father. had scribes novel Despite developed her when the she is abandoned relationship them, one of cold she by her that de-

somewhat The source therefore, text In of the releasing ambiguities, impulses of her

imagines. the means, states. image, tions, merged gence fuses One conscious Poniatowska only

close

between response as

of disrupting gaps, one her finds unconscious indications and enabling identity

practi-

contradicor subof unconemerthe which re-

tenia lo que menos bonita, no era Yo designed This era seems cality (56). reina Que me firm her dijeran emotional empt any impression

he tenido. ynot to afp16.una preto

un dicho, S6chil era but de strength also of weakness. motivation also

refractory

containment area is of silent

in a single operation

mould. of the unwith the inter-

Unconscious determine cal Jesusa's

chulcato seems

judgement and racial

Jesusa's as interviewer.

interaction In

appearance she

identity.

of her physime As a rejec-

mestiza

displays

an unconscious que history she ni dwells while

mediating and

role

as but possible

interrogator, she is also effect is that, narration, by of

prompter involved this despite more the as

tracing French over 21). in her the

her

family

on glossing

the

interlocutor, One form

origins Indian

of her roots

father of

listener. subtie apparent might

of mediation freedom of her constrained

Racial

self-hatred

her mother fibres also manifests that she

(220itself is not mis

Jesusa her con-

eagerness

to establish "Petra era

have

felt

dark-skinned:

trigueiXa,

particular conceal illusion ages the either truth, betwen Jesusa There irony tween perceive aware and in the as the "truth"

views others.

and The

ideas virtual of the

and

to

stifle

or (or

sol de

pero cuerpo

no

soy

echaran pero prieta

ella mAs that so peleaba

si era indita she

oscura que yo to

effacement author encourstory preclude

of effacement) reader of the to

(31)." as herself terms: as le decia:

On

y cara. Sali6 me the occasion she que does me

refers

accept but of what of speaking by

Jesusa's does she the not

no as Indian, "Siempre que -Siquiera guaje, zg'uala [sic]

in derogatory con se cosa Pedro meta buena, C/na mine) physical

.

text,

a questioning or a recognition Jesusa presented is the an work as

presents divergence subject

cuando biisquese mide una india.... emphasis to the who her

hacerme and que que other becan tica, pearance non-white the ideology no sea pero cos/ife

cosa Anapof

herself. "unconscious" complicity reader. the opposite Both

"(104,

apparentiy involving and the

of her

references

expresses peoples of white

self-contempt have internalized superiority

author a reality which

of which is the

speaker of what

is not she belie

aesthetic

(Fanon

42-43):

scious Jesusa's and

motivations explicit are (or

and

desires,

which about of her herself misrecown ran nada porque Such of both ity a frank Jesusa's selfhood female the Taken however, may also be credibility in the this me daba vergfienza. admission ability and appears to confront her deviation which serves (70) to be the a sign realfrom to

statements symptomatic

which

ognition identity. Certain recur denial sion, reader, narrator's suspicion these count repeatedly rather

misrepresentation?)

of her

of her

strategies

of narration: and

self-presentation overemphatic its opposites: The evaresisting the with using her herself by reason early ac-

stereotypical enhance tation. uttered, ation nally tecting men. peated

vanity,

in Jesusa's or assertion and

of her context aesthetic

self-represenin which self-devaluas a sublimifor prowith her reit is

flippancy refusing version upon strategies. of her as than

silence. induced truth, motivation example, she who This is

to be of her For actions one

to accept will look for in

interpreted

apotropaic herself This and view

gesture, from gains sexual

a strategy interaction from

strength desexualization

presents ruled

insistent with as an the

of her which to submit she to

relationships construes

other

sex,

emotion.

is apparent

unwillingness

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jaba Alevante!," nes male Yo Emphatic account me nunca voy cuando puestos domination. a cobijar, me of pues 61 denial quit6 me her a v6.monos laeso ocupaba, los hora experience in Jesusa no, pantalones, this que tenia a pero donde case also tocaran: que quesea. of nom6.s functions expresses traer dijerayo, sexual Mi"iReuni6n, los marido me pantalome los intias her voy bano a

Jesusa's which lo knowledge one control. que The she tanto she discomfort succeeds repressed les marries and urge her pero ina and claim sexuality. both bullfighter que ambivalence nosuppressing oflo her adornen! A (188) own dream(108) aversubdisher in

SUBTEXTUALITY

IN ELENA PONIATOWSKA'5

HASTA NO VERTE JESUS Mb

219

desire ognition the desire fear of

to be

a man, social But

attributing advantage again this

it to her enjoyed expressed

recby What not so strikes much from that she the reader in this awareness husband not disturbed but revelation of lack her by is of prethis

of the (186).

male

Jesusa's her is

appears intimate

as a mere

camouflage with

for her men.

affection tense

relationships

pre-emptive continued chic truth. Because maintaining claimed resort to

gesture repression

and of

a strategy a disquieting

for

the psy-

sion her hends

to demonstrations cavalier dismissal, for beneath

of affection. however, this very the one love

Despite appreand of afher of one feels But by

a yearning lurking Her as

of the the identity, disgnise desires is evident, [Pedro]

overriding integrity Jesusa and which for con esas of must pretense she

concern her

with self-pro-

fection words. love

surface

scoffing

reference and discomfort the response of her other as

to displays

frequently to finds conceal disturbin her

"d:spara/e? of the

"figure/a? is
that sex. she a conscious This

indication with intimacy

or repress ing.' Nunca This anduvo

with her side

example, adulaciones

representing reveal another the case in secret desire feeling Mexico played of City: in these

de que

person.

is her and in of

mi vidita yo te quiero, que mi vida, que mi vidita yo macy with her husband: me muero. Ay, esos disparates que les dicen ahora! Tampoco besuqueos me bes6. No estoy bes6 acostumbrada a Jesucristo, a los y ya ye pues s6lo Judas

her lengthy confession of and affirming her agency marginalization instances are and exile

a acostar como lo que result6.

en mi figuretas casa, me voy desvestir Qu6 son a 6sas! Qu6 porque hagan

symptoms

era hombre de eso.

que lo estuviera muy

apapachando serio. (86)

a uno, nada

verts men conflict

her (156).

declared This

lack dream her a classic of

of sexual makes ego and illustration dreams as desires.

interest manifest her

in the

Era hombre

between and is theory

unconof the

Ostensibly, even tion protesting, and her

she

seems her sexual

to be husband's

pointing lack

to,

and

scious, Freudian fulfilments The her cation tion. In

of affecin the

symbolic

objectification she on her

of unconscious variability of Jesusa's deficiency tendency

marriage. anxious band. not

But to

simultaneously pass judgement

seems her husby of

references is another

to mdi-

educational of her

In fact,

she the

mitigates unceremonious to the Her

criticism nature

towards her simulates others, lack

prevaricaof and formal rejects her(202). educational Jesusa over her estabsituBy

attributing their wartime appears tion admit ings Jesusa On the ship ger part: that sexual

acknowledging she both of pero discontent its degree the stability is

activity

exigencies

of the motive

education the self

situation. to she be to

unconscious dispel for this be and costs. she sexual again of lament the

perceptions as "burra

describing contenta"

subtly

implicaTo to feelthis that

muy

yearned need would desire, deny

affection.

disclaiming status lishes ation. despite some But

with

her

to this of sexual would

to admit it is

inadequacy, of control of this

at all

consciously by of remorse her

a subsequent of her love

occasion in her but idea

refers relationshe on

to

assumed earlier over her

position inadvertent educational

undermined

absence with to

admission deficiency serve aspects the mask

husband, the

is eaher

(52). equally characto to

pre-empt

Jesusa's reveal ter. But and

declarations to mask

of her

occasionally

is lowered

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vido sura porque para nada. no puedo Toda sermiotra vida cosa. he Yo sido nunca el mismo he ser-

A la mam6.

de Prisca

...

la quise

muchisimo....

La he

220 .yo

HISPANIA no tengo

77 MAY 1994
patria.... y puro mexicana, No me Aquf inters. pero siento mexicana ni dineque she ing states. but she Jesusa is not only capable of feeldeeply: que el Soy baJesusa purpose show that wears of the the a psychological interview. reality is the Her mask actions opposite for the

reconozco pura ro y bienes, la basura, perro

a los mexicanos. seria pues

no existe como

m6.s que

often of what

conveniencia

Si yo tuviera soy peor ala Soy basura adelante....

no soy nada.... una miada y sigue

le echa

is capable

of feeling

microbio la vividera. alegre.

que ye.... Pero

Aquf se me ha dificultado triste, no. Al contrario, (218)

mucho vivo

extraftado pero s rogar

todos

estos

aftos y la extrafto de nuevo la fecha Hasta

hasta

la fecha, yo no and nos en-

no estoy

no podemos

ser amigas

porque por qu

Asi es la vida, vivir alegre.

con amistad.

no s

apartamos.... Significant Jesusa's ity between of victimhood hand, tempt to and, on is the incongruin this utterance seeks her ego side which caring of feelings admission Jesusa's and the over her dispossession, other, these her on the relentiess one at-

No necesito

de ella porque

si estoy

y aqui me estoy referma me atranco bien atrancada me han nunca A mi, los niiXos cuidar nifios. ego sola, solita. (306-07) volcando, Conflicting Firstly, for Jesusa desires collide in this her with account. capacity another

demonstrates engagement she elsewhere

to gloss

feelings and

in order more so

emotional which

convince

interlocutor,

woman,

that she is happy. herself, ostracizes whom society cially those to that reader who is attentive The of the might, mire separate tional stands qualifies sire to not self with those her woman. out as only that Jesusa consciously decry and clearly in of her rather attitudes from fact, the not

or neimage projects

('Yo faltan. ni las he tenido no tengo amigas, nunca el pescuezo. que nomfts me dan ganas de apretarles between one Her cynicism, tenerlas" (182). quiero denies conclude, rather Secondly, protestations her need than is born natural and even out of bitter antipathy more experior aver-

may adence sion. her trays

reason, attributes most

than

that tradionly but by but a dealso gusta "Yo a los tendeny

surprisingly, me she beher pride

notwithstanding, Thirdly, for friendship. subtext, how excessive reveals of this

Jesusa, because a female to resist

strength driven

confession leads need

macho

to repression and to consequent the an Such and may be need to that text she has as

psycho-emotional no loneliness she claims of to to image her which to is, have

domination "a griten mi que a mi" a los (182). impulse, held propensity practicality are less of

dominate yo, no

others: que me

me (153); niiXos, Her to

nevertheless, chosen. ciency chological times that to

option

gritar los

affirmation

self-suffideep psyat all

acostumbro a los to control and other

a todos, policias" natural

attributed to appear

animales, dency emotion of female

conform

narcissistic created. is the stark

of strength

traditionally her her cold

indices

weakness, violence,

Nowhere the unconscious than and she to in her

ganas opposition

between

physical apparent tics that

and

hardheartedness make the her appear

characteristhan human. underlypersonalthis impres-

more Jesusa's relationship but she

dramatically attitude with toward them.

illustrated children Not only is

However, ing ity sion.

disclosure of reader the to

other

dimensions leads the

narrator's modify

childless children

professes

an aversion "Lavar pesado es

bordering pero segiXn

pesado,

on hatred: Pero yo, es mis

constantly such as her

to

deny,

asserts of and

itself

in

actions to

gnstado. tes" even (280). more

Son She

muy

latosos

y muy her

malas

genwith

treatment of animals expressions

attachment

expresses

aversion

an assortment Her the repeated suffering

(114,182-83,295). of empathy of others, with espe-

emphatic

violence:

or misfortune

esta

vecindad

estft llena ellos.

de criaturas,

gritan

tanto

glects the

(184, image

185,

273,

284), that

also she

conflict consciously

with

of aloofness

Lo malo es que como no puedo acabar con (173)

en todas

partes

hay niftos,

yo

projects. Several subtle indicators show that But a large gap exists between these ex-

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knowledged serts itself da lata"

to desire smother to love this and eruption nurture However, the essentially

of chiluncar-

devotion tween Me regres

them: to her."Se

me

engri6 y Perico

el

pinacate" afuera en

(182).

con Tr6.nsito

se qued6

SUBTEXTUALITY narrator pressed and Jesusa sentiments as protagonist/actor. and Jesusa's

IN ELENA PONIATOWSKA'5 unacIn

HASTA NO VERTE JESUS MI"O 221 me dieron las once de of the bond be-

la casa, me estuve esper6ndolo, sion of the development

already defined as "weak," Jesusa as narradren. This nurturing instinct is possibly her tor would be seen to do violence to her egostrongest unconscious motivation. Time and again, and spontaneously, she assumes

responsibility dren, but she less children. concern outstrips

for disadvantaged or motherrepresents this as a moral In one instance her maternal that of the natural mother

vendr6.," pens& Pues no vino. Yo me acordaba todo a (272), which signals her denial of her own canincuase el tiempo del pastel: "Ya vendr6. a comrselo en la yenveliz agency and her projection of her unconhaiga del detr6.s, scious desire on to the child. She offers inEn fui un stead a completely altruistic version me of her la emotional strength she suppresses media iria any motives (280, 312). a que Nevertheless, Jesusa's account meti6. betrays subida definite signs of a deep gagement: for Perico. One measure and sacrifice she to make puts arregh poco sensitive love ver se a a is the "seeffort ala of this Aunque siguidndolo, intocasagiving him an and

(213). Yet, in characteristic ing any emotional benefit from conceals her maternal feelings sion of her Signs ample, her of in the custody Her mothering these experience, feelings

fashion, she this arrangein her ver-

appear, of her

for account son of

exof her be-

vocabulary of Angel, description the

little of his

neighbor.

death

trays her emotional attachment to the the shiest of Felicitas' children, whom "Se nos muri6 de pulmonia fulminante. no But role luve muchachilo" (182, ego emphasis immediately is reluctant

child: she Yya mine), to asac-

him better than herself. la d6nde poco which, though harsh by y alcanc En voyyo esperar6. some standards, seeks por to inculcate the vallo ues of discipline, good vi manners, indepenalli no. lavandera. ropa me dence and self-reliance, to make him "un ni sali la Pensft: ya hombre de vergtienza" (288). The bond de conmigo, between them Pues is reciprocal: Jesusa's selfIt is an education denial Jesusa in rearing is matched vueltay Perico esper6 has constructed. The true "Pues Cuando qued6 she conceals dio are betrayed by many atr6.s? Jesusa's me account of the manner she filled me eventually Dije: No trabajando with pathos: para Se Luego is abandoned estar by by his feelings tell-tale in which Perico is

education

her rationalistic of mother, Jesusa

knowledge conscious de echd que de se

her own emotional desire: "A mi no me muriera.... la lata Ni me

interest in dio tristeza sola. nadie Ni me

senti a mi

menos

porque

ing final

Jesusa

is the

image "Me

that

endures con Todavia here

in her tres las is the as is

comment: de (182). ese

quedd Angel. evident between

banqueta. Ia dra. Segui mi6n." detr6.s. caigo vaya." escondido. lo encontrd de un rato tome el cami6n. quiere y la una, hasta no noche." However, Pues no volvi6. in order "Ya (292). to preserve a faade of

camisitas tengo" conflictive

niiXito is

What

relationship

Jesusa

guna puerta pie.Despu6s

Llegu

admitting

to

those

feelings

which

she has necesiwork

la noche,

las doce

que me acost.

"Ya

identity. on the

When responsibility

Felicitas

dies of caring

Jesusa takes the for her chilin

duty:

'XiQud

hago?

Ni

modo

de

echarlos to deny-

demonstration instead a picture

of

mourning of

and

presents disen-

la calle!"

(276).

Refusing

chiquillos, to admit

dispassionate

ment,

she

advances "Estaban y se

explanation: taban calor

instead episode

a pragmatic Dije. triste, qu

acercaban

los

dos

a mi"

puesto con

gano?

El andaba

divirtkmdose.

Me

(277).
The the most moving of her relationship with Perico, account

ropa. (293)

diendo.

singles tually

out rears

for as

special a son.

attention Again, in

and playing

eventhe

The

Perico

affair to the

constitutes unified

the self-image

strongest that

challenge

the

relationship.

This

is evident

in her

ver-

signs,

such

as

the

fact

that

even

after

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As strength, proverbial En qu dije las in estar que noches the era triste.... what triste case "prodigal en la mi Yo of Jesusa vida cuarto nunca littleque son." betrays le Angel, me he dije llevado, ac&rdaba que SheJesusa's is fuera admits pero precisely de triste, Perico, yo, too no. to le

niaveintid6s the become response: denies mother here surrogate la muchacha role emerges and mother cuando more paradoxically se an acuerda (304-05). involuntary deinvenir an In

222

HISPANIA

77 MAY 1994
she for the follows return his of the hijos, tengo para yo" qu? (312). Si The con trabajos me desire manshe

Perico's movements

disappearance and waits

maternal

continuing denies that

to this

remember causes her

him

but

stoically

incident pected Mother's

in

which

she the

rejects, offer for she of whom

with a

unexgift she on had her te-

angnish:

violence, Day by

a girl

pero

con

un recordatono

natural....

Yo no tenia

por

characteristic

fashion

rationalizes

La vida 95).

si, la vida

si es pesada

pero

yo

triste?

(294Yo lo hubiera tumbre recibido si desde fuera niftas agarran de darme aunque un platano.... Ya Ia

mala cos-

insistent tions the

disavowal counterproductively

of emotional to claim. cast

pain doubt so, the of in

funcon spite

a darme cob..... dre. De la madre (305)

Y nada menos que el dia de seca, porque yo fui como las mulas!

sincerity

of

her

And

of her of her

determination self-created

to defend image

integrity

This index

over-reaction of a genuine

appears aversion

to be to being

less cast

an in

emotional

her

emotional When Perico

vulnerability, returns, takes to of exploit the same of profound him her, Jesusa in again. although in his feeds She him even she is mo-

expression because By the ground

of the of her

deep

anxiety

Jesusa

feels

barrenness. a position the reader of complicity is able to of with forethe perto highthe domian

and allows well tives. her ment "Yo me darle

eventually him aware At feeling to her the

refusing

narrator, other

opportunism time, she hurt desire si, me lo pero ya

textual aspects she they she does

indicators of Jesusa's not choose with project. for her

subordinates and disillusionfor s No pesa revenge: que me es l no

psycho-emotional sonality light nant instance la which death what an is which because image is

frustrated cariiXo,

conflict to love in her

le tengo busc6 la

seeks deep

Such brother to

porque tortilla, que llevd' reveals for

queria.... que (313, her me

pesa ver

the

manifested She

reaction

his

venlafiz Here to be

emphasis very This human unfulfilled recesses but por surfaces mis Me coraje.

mine), need deof her as perteacuesto 7'odo em-

(62-63). more

also

discloses, her of experience cathartic

someof pro-

Jesusa loved residing

ambiguously, outpouring significance

herself. in the

emotional the

sire,

dim her aquf me

portions, from en her Pocito,

of which "Llor s6lo cosa Dios lenia,

is hidden mucho sabe. que alli Tenia tanta (257,

unconscious, anger: nencias, pero viene phasis with muy y me no de "Se no me muy que

haunts estA

consciousness: llor como no sfquf subi6 mine). a los ojos.

porque duermo. lef's She

quiere. Siento

sentimiento, agna me

Llor

mucho

de inwy insists mode of Me caigo Nunca (295). with the

denlrd' that she

(314,

emphasis of this of the tualist extent the

The

deceptive

placement of the eruption of a spinof the of represlimare traces the ori-

mine). her feliz solitary aqui

is happy "Soy yo solita yo

outstanding unconscious session of Jesusa's tension Other is

example in the further lack

existence: muerdo y me me Yet

context evidence

solita. me feliz.

rasguiXo, Soy muy

levanto ha gustado seems restoring

of understanding from her

solita. vivir harbour the old

psychic of desire. of Jesusa's

arising

acompaiXada" Perico bond. such

she of

to

sion its

indications

of the

hope

self-understanding narration. She

present incontrovertible and in claims: ability evidence to assume on nunca the he the Perico deseado gins

in the of her

Despite of her maternal affair Jesusa

unaffectionate deprivation "Pedro no

personality during se her cas6 No nos

to her early conmigo habktde-

willingness role,

emotional velopment: porque yo

reflecting "Yo

le

gustara....

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conflict is the natural and also harmonious caused tempting impulse underlying her ile illusion and that

makes to coexistence to the relegate view harmonious her Jesusa appear her within emotional as hard. faade. an her emof It she has created. of her of her human The psyche comare

pears have product in this 2According 'Lisa directed in critical with Davis studiesadmiration mode to quotes their of Catherine Hasta tend critical Poniatowska's to or nofocus Belsey awe. commentaries vertejestis This on(126-27), the feminist approach mio truthto by studies propoor such Joel the apanomaly of an anti-female or anti-feminist attitude in Jesusa. Lucille Kerr's examination of the issue of truth in the novel focuses on the Cynthia fallacy of the notion of

plexity a more

contradictions index

reliable

identity.

authorial

detachment.

Steele's

wide-ranging

values exhibits, bamos. amor, to hide. course, Lacanian

and

attitudes no less eso no tuve capable that

that

SUBTEXTUALITY she proclaims human cual She

IN ELENA PONIATOWSKA'5 HASTA NO VERTE JESUS Mb and 4This self-hatred also manifests itself more feeles el is, of in liquely in her racial definitions of others, such panding the range of meanings in the

223 ob-

but Por nunca not terms

so for the reconozco amor" of the (108).

as Juan novel.

recognizing of her psychic ego as

The vigilant critic will disclose, by probing feo el viejo.... Eso si, tenia una mujer bonita, bonitay beneath the surface of the ego, which the this notion text 5For privileges, of disguise I am indebtedthatto Kerr the unconscious lies

root

dilemma is the struggle to the character-narrator, unconscious desire. perceive both textual Jesusa's psychology of socio-economic preoccupation work the dominant

between insofar and may subtextual bear the insofar has in

and they

disaffects as her made her life

deprivation with surviving imperative

concealed in the subtext, thereby providing of a male physical disguise during the Mexican Revoof a more be complete sense of the complex nathe use lution as an act of simulation (pretending to be what ture of the "truth" of the work. to image what she is) and relates it to authorial role and truthAmong finished U NOTES Privilege not of qualities Jesusa's the sition: "I wanted to highlight the personaldiscloses

needs She has

to the

margins

of her

consciousness. degree to restrain

developed control and

an extraordinary her tendency

of self-

Jesusa that distinguish her from the traditional of Mexican women: her rebelliousness, her indepenview dence" (Davis 226-67). (235) to (wetending construes Understanding and

bodiment

of

androgyny,

implying & male and female 6

thereby

expressiveness Poor Hancock, Fern6.ndez Women Maria

of the text

psychoanalytical both (e.g. maintain stereotypically strength such and a view

of Has/a
traits But to the

to of the Americas: The Color Purple Transformation Davis Inez Lagos-Pope, and Margarita novel, and to a greater Lisa 'The the extent Lucille Kerr

tenderness) is to de-emphasize

Olmos.

3Lisa Davis

Her

unified

identity

is no

more

than

a frag-

problematic

1980. on areas. Invitation dissimulation Gale. "An and essay Bell

In the be

final

analysis, for

Jesusa those

Palancares

may feminist

memorable

exemplary

essay on the novel also points up contradictions and ambivalence in Jesusa's narrative and in her characher ter. Lisa. not) in is

ings,

yearnings

and

anxieties

that

she

seeks

Espinoza Chevigny, Davis, she who, gzieritd'

of whom

she says "era un indio

negro, estaba

Both novel

the share

reader a privileged

and

the

author

of

this

(93, emphasis

mine).

position

in relation

courses to ous Jesusa's cial voice who the cant fect each levels

as

well

as

their

ironic

other. in narrative of voice

Subversion Has/a no

appears verle

relationship signifion vanJesus info.

value

in the novel. (353) proposes this view.

6Hancock

is subversive Mexican of the

version is the has high been

of the offiless history. Jesusa's class No socially woman and in

WORKS CITED
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silenced tradition.

Belsey, Catherine. Methuen, in the Work can Literay

literary

is self-subversion-the of her unconscious image. desires

subversive on her

efself-

of Elena Review

Poniatowska." 26 (1985): 49-62.

Latin

Amen-

constructed

reaing verteJestis with ings, but rather feminist info or does not compete readthus ex-

and

Hasta no verteJesus mio."Reinventingthe

Comparative Studies ofLiterature ed. Bell York: ofthe Gale CamSpanish America, New

Americas.

sociological both,

(Inited States and

Chevigny and

complements

Gari Laguardia.

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224

HISPANIA bridge UP, Frantz.

77 MAY 1994
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Charles

Markmann. Olmos,

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Aproximaciones Interamencana Hancock, Jesus Kerr, Hispania Lucille. the Truth Jesus Joel. miu The

of the Image

of Woman."

1976. do de Cultura Econ6mica, P, Elena. Hasta no ven'efes,is Poniatowska, Ediciones Steele, Novel, of Texas Era, 1990. Politics, Gender and Cynthia.

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mlo." MLN1O6

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