Solsman, Rachel

Zeigler, Gabby

English

Liberty University Digital Commons

Abstract: This paper examines the short story “El Oro de Tomás Vargas” by Isabel Allende in the context of feminism and male chauvinism in the late twentieth century. In this work, the greedy male protagonist Tomás Vargas abuses his wife and family, and is continuously unfaithful. When Vargas’s pregnant concubine Concha Díaz arrives in town, she and his wife Antonia Sierra form a bond and work together to stand against their abuser. These two women join forces not only to confront a common enemy, but to use the power and strength of womanhood to combat the ever-present issue of male chauvinism. In the societal views of Latin America leading up to the late twentieth century, feminism was only viewed as an excuse for women to be disobedient, rambunctious, or superior. However, Allende’s literary work portrays a different perspective. The wife and concubine use feminism not as a justification to be unruly or revolt against societal norms, but rather to end the cycle of manipulation and abuse. Through the lens of the experiences of Isabel Allende and her short story “El Oro de Tomás Vargas”, the principal theme of feminism is shown to be one that is inherent in the culture and philosophy of Latin American women, shaped through the feminist movements of different times and locations, as well as continually adapting and evolving to challenge the presuppositions of a male-dominated environment in society. 

A Feminine Future: Isabel Allende, Feminism, and Latin American Culture

https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1306&amp;context=research_symp

A Feminine Future: Isabel Allende, Feminism, and Latin American Culture

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