Ernesto Cardenal Critical Essay | Critical Essay by Robert Pring-Mill

Critical Essay by Robert Pring-Mill

SOURCE: "Cardenal's Treatment of Amerindian Cultures in Homenaje a los indios americanos," in Renaissance and Modern Studies, Vol. 35, 1992, pp. 52-74.

In the following essay, Pring-Mill traces the development of Cardenal's life and poetry, and relates this growth and change to his portrayal of Native American peoples in Homenaje a los indios americanos.

In any examination of the ways in which the Americas have been perceived, and of the struggle to make sense of the continent and come to terms with the effects of cultural change and conflict, the range of images of its indigenous peoples found in literature is an obvious area for scrutiny. How have these been treated, and how has their 'treatment' helped to shape our present-day awareness of the identities of different Amerindian cultures? 'Treatment'—as used in the title of this article—is not merely a matter of 'attitudes' or 'views expressed', but also a matter...
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