Distillation and Diaspora of the Transformative Force of Doña Felipa: Women's Power in Jose María Arguedas’ 1958 novel Deep Rivers

Authors

  • Lynette Yetter Reed College

Keywords:

Arguedas, Andes, Peru, Quechua, Indigenous, Women, Social Justice,

Abstract

This paper explores how the character Doña Felipa in the 1958 novel Deep Rivers by José María Arguedas symbolized the power of independent mestiza women (cholitas) as a transformative force in society, a force that was simultaneously distilled into and transmitted by the mestiza character of Doña Felipa. This feminine force was likened to a force of nature. It connected with the powerful Pachachaca River, and even the lifegiving power of the sun. As a distillation of this force, Doña Felipa represented all mestiza women of the Peruvian sierra, especially cholitas in the chicha  cornbeer industry. The diaspora of this force inspired others (including men) to take action for justice and the public good.

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Author Biography

Lynette Yetter, Reed College

Lynette Yetter is midway through the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program at Reed College. She studied Quechua at UCLA and is a permanent resident of Bolivia. She is the author of two books inspired by her experiences of living and working with indigenous people in the Andes, Lucy Plays Panpipes for Peace, and 72 Money Saving Tips for the 99%. Her writings have been published in academic and literary journals.

References

Arguedas, José María, Deep Rivers, Waveland Press, 2002

Chara, Simon, 1990

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Puente-pachachaca-abancay.jpg

Klema, Nate, 2011

http://coloradokayak.blogspot.com/2011/05/peru-2010-rio-patchachaca_16.html

(I digitally removed a kayaker from this photograph)

Merriam-Webster 2013

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diaspora

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Published

2017-05-26

Issue

Section

Articles