Colonial Legacies and Contemporary Identities in Chile: Revisiting Catalina de los Rios y Lisperguer

This book explores traditional and contemporary concerns surrounding gender and ethnicity in Chile through a textual analysis of historical novels depicting seventeenth-century figure,Catalina de los Ríos y Lisperguer. It incorporates postcolonial perspectives and decolonial feminist methodologies to expose patriarchal,Eurocentric hierarchies constructed during the colonial era,which remain in Chilean society today. Through close readings,it demonstrates that identities are deconstructed and reconstructed in ways that defy and transform social norms. It is the first extended English-language study of this infamous historical figure,who is more widely known as la Quintrala,and the first to compare the literary portrayals by Mercedes Valdivieso and Gustavo Frías.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 02 April 2024
Publisher: Liverpool University Press

This captivating book delves into the intricate tapestry of gender and ethnicity in Chile, employing a textual analysis of historical novels that vividly depict the life of Catalina de los Ríos y Lisperguer during the seventeenth century. By drawing upon theories from both the Global North and South, the author seamlessly incorporates postcolonial perspectives and decolonial feminist methodologies to unveil the patriarchal, Eurocentric hierarchies that were constructed during the colonial era, which continue to shape Chilean society today. Through meticulous close readings, the book unveils that it is within the inconsistent and fluid portrayals of characters that identities are deconstructed and reconstructed in ways that challenge and transform societal norms.

This groundbreaking work stands as the first extended English-language study of this infamous historical figure, more widely recognized as la Quintrala. Moreover, it is the first to compare the literary portrayals by Mercedes Valdivieso and Gustavo Frías, offering a fresh perspective on the multifaceted character. By moving beyond the usual infamy that often shapes interpretations of la Quintrala, the author presents these novels as a poignant embodiment of the anxieties surrounding hybridity in Chile. Here, European heritage has traditionally overshadowed indigenous concerns, while patriarchal norms have dominated the construction of gender. Written during a period of social and political upheaval in Chile, this book makes a timely and valuable contribution to existing works in social and political science, popular culture, and the ongoing discussions surrounding this iconic figure.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781802075304