This study aims to analyze the novel Sab by Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda through an interdisciplinary approach that combines literature, psychoanalytic-philosophical theory, and narratology, with the objective of deepening the understanding of the novel’s inner conflicts and historical relevance. The analysis focuses on the protagonist, Sab, whose internal struggle is interpreted in light of the pulsional dualism of Eros and Thanatos, theorized by S. Freud and later revisited and developed by J. Lacan. This approach allows for an exploration of how these drives manifest within a context of colonial oppression and social inequality, contributing to the construction of a complex and conflictual Cuban identity, characterized by mestizaje and resistance. In the first section of this study, the concepts of Eros and Thanatos are appied to highlight the protagonist’s psychological dynamics, emphasizing the conflict between the desire for love and freedom and the pull toward self-destruction, stemming from his awareness of his condition as a slave. At the same time, the narrative logic developed by C. Bremond (1977) is employed to analyze the “impossible choices” that shape Sab’s tragic fate, underscoring how these decisions resonate with the ethical and social dilemmas of nineteenth-century Cuba. Furthermore, this study contextualizes the novel within its historical and cultural framework, paying particular attention to Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda as an innovative author ahead of her time. It examines the connections between her personal experiences and the themes of slavery, racism, and freedom that permeate the novel, while also exploring the Romantic and anti-slavery dimensions of the text, which intertwine love, suffering, and the aspiration for freedom. In conclusion, this study proposes an allegorical reading of the novel, interpreting Sab as a symbol of the struggle for emancipation and the construction of a new Cuban national identity. The work emerges not only as a denunciation of social injustices but also as a precursor to contemporary Latin American literature, engaging with issues of race, identity, and resistance that remain highly relevant in today’s literary discourse. By adopting this approach, the study aims to highlight the literary and cultural richness of Sab, providing tools to appreciate its relevance, the complexity of its multiple dimensions, and new interpretative perspectives that enhance its understanding.
El presente estudio se propone examinar la novela Sab de Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda desde una perspectiva interdisciplinaria que integra literatura, teoría psicoanalítica-filosófica y narratología, con el fin de desentrañar la profundidad de sus conflictos internos y su relevancia histórica. El análisis se centra en el protagonista Sab, cuya lucha interna se interpreta a través del dualismo pulsional de Eros y Thanatos, formulado por S. Freud y retomado y desarrollado posteriormente por J. Lacan. Este enfoque permite explorar cómo dichas pulsiones encuentran expresión en un contexto de opresión colonial y desigualdad social, contribuyendo a la construcción de una identidad cubana híbrida y en tensión, caracterizada por el mestizaje y la resistencia. En la primera sección del estudio, se aplican los conceptos de Eros y Thanatos para subrayar las dinámicas psicológicas del protagonista, revelando el enfrentamiento entre el deseo de amor y libertad y la atracción hacia la autodestrucción, fruto de su percepción de la propia esclavitud. De forma paralela, se recurre a la lógica narrativa propuesta por C. Bremond (1977) para examinar las “elecciones imposibles” que configuran el destino trágico de Sab, subrayando cómo estas decisiones resuenan con los dilemas éticos y sociales de la Cuba del siglo XIX. La investigación también contextualiza la novela en el marco histórico y cultural de su época, con especial atención a la figura de Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda como una autora adelantada a su tiempo. Se examinan las conexiones entre su vida personal y los temas de esclavitud, racismo y libertad que atraviesan su obra, al mismo tiempo que se profundiza en su dimensión romántica y antiesclavista, centrada en los temas de amor, sufrimiento y resistencia. En su conclusión, el estudio sugiere una lectura alegórica del texto, interpretando a Sab como un emblema de la lucha por la emancipación y la forja de una nueva identidad nacional cubana. La obra se revela no solo como una denuncia vehemente contra las injusticias sociales, sino también como un precursor de la narrativa hispanoamericana contemporánea, capaz de abordar cuestiones de raza, identidad y resistencia que continúan siendo relevantes en la literatura actual. Con este enfoque, se busca poner de relieve la riqueza literaria y cultural de Sab, ofreciendo herramientas para apreciar la fuerza de su mensaje, la complejidad de sus múltiples dimensiones y nuevas claves de interpretación que enriquecen la comprensión de esta obra.
Entre Eros y Thanatos: El Dualismo Pulsional y la Lógica del Relato en Sab de Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda
PALMIGIANO, ALESSIA
2023/2024
Abstract
This study aims to analyze the novel Sab by Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda through an interdisciplinary approach that combines literature, psychoanalytic-philosophical theory, and narratology, with the objective of deepening the understanding of the novel’s inner conflicts and historical relevance. The analysis focuses on the protagonist, Sab, whose internal struggle is interpreted in light of the pulsional dualism of Eros and Thanatos, theorized by S. Freud and later revisited and developed by J. Lacan. This approach allows for an exploration of how these drives manifest within a context of colonial oppression and social inequality, contributing to the construction of a complex and conflictual Cuban identity, characterized by mestizaje and resistance. In the first section of this study, the concepts of Eros and Thanatos are appied to highlight the protagonist’s psychological dynamics, emphasizing the conflict between the desire for love and freedom and the pull toward self-destruction, stemming from his awareness of his condition as a slave. At the same time, the narrative logic developed by C. Bremond (1977) is employed to analyze the “impossible choices” that shape Sab’s tragic fate, underscoring how these decisions resonate with the ethical and social dilemmas of nineteenth-century Cuba. Furthermore, this study contextualizes the novel within its historical and cultural framework, paying particular attention to Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda as an innovative author ahead of her time. It examines the connections between her personal experiences and the themes of slavery, racism, and freedom that permeate the novel, while also exploring the Romantic and anti-slavery dimensions of the text, which intertwine love, suffering, and the aspiration for freedom. In conclusion, this study proposes an allegorical reading of the novel, interpreting Sab as a symbol of the struggle for emancipation and the construction of a new Cuban national identity. The work emerges not only as a denunciation of social injustices but also as a precursor to contemporary Latin American literature, engaging with issues of race, identity, and resistance that remain highly relevant in today’s literary discourse. By adopting this approach, the study aims to highlight the literary and cultural richness of Sab, providing tools to appreciate its relevance, the complexity of its multiple dimensions, and new interpretative perspectives that enhance its understanding.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14247/24542