LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE'S EXPLORATION OF UNCONVENTIONAL BODIES

Abstract

The Enlightenment of the 18th century marked a significant turning point in the role of state governments. Beyond its conventional function of maintaining order within human communities, liberalism expanded its scope by linking economic prosperity to progress and human well-being to productivity. This transformation redefined the "reason of state" as prosperity and progress, prompting nations to extract resources and promote productivity. Notably, life itself emerged as a resource with infinite potential, simultaneously renewable and vulnerable, leading to the emergence of what Foucault termed "the dominance of Biopolitics."

In the context of Latin American nation-building, economic liberalism became a driving force that emphasized productivity, prosperity, and progress as the key components of modern citizenship. This nationalistic fervor was reflected in 19th-century literature through the portrayal of "emblematic couples and heroic figures" in romantic novels, as exemplified by Juan Leon Mera's Cumandá. These characters embodied the desired national virtues, with Mera's vivid description highlighting the extraordinary beauty and uniqueness of Cumandá, whose pale ivory complexion, silken hair, graceful demeanor, and enigmatic dark eyes symbolized a fusion of sweetness and pride, a Christian heart within a wild spirit.