Biografía de José María Arguedas | Literatura peruana

José María Arguedas: A Life of Struggle and Cultural Identity

Early Life and Childhood Trauma

• José María Arguedas was born on January 18, 1911, in Andahuailas, Peru. His early life was marked by tragedy with the death of his mother at age three, leading to a difficult childhood.

• After his father's remarriage to Grimanesa Arangoitia, Arguedas faced psychological and physical abuse, being relegated to the domestic sphere and mistreated by his stepbrother Pablo Pacheco.

• He experienced violence and humiliation during this time but found solace in Quechua culture, learning their language and sharing in their traditions. This connection shaped his artistic sensibility.

Adolescence and Education

• During adolescence, he escaped from his abusive home life to live with his aunt Soy Rosa for two years, where he participated in agricultural work that left him with cherished memories.

• Arguedas's education was fragmented; he attended multiple schools across various towns due to his father's profession as a wandering lawyer. He faced rejection based on his mountain origins while studying in Ica but excelled academically despite prejudice.

• In 1931, he enrolled at the University of San Marcos where he met influential figures like poet Emilio Adolfo Bestfallen and philosopher Carlos Cueto Fernandini. He graduated in literature before pursuing ethnology.

Literary Contributions

• His first story "Wararmaay" was published in 1933 followed by the book "Agua" in 1935 which marked a shift towards neo-indigenism focused on the realities of Andean peoples rather than folklore alone.

• As an educator and civil servant, he promoted Andean art and culture through various roles including director of the House of Culture of Peru (1963–1964) and National Museum of History (1964–1966).

• Notable works include "Jaguar Fiesta" (1941), "Deep Rivers" (1958), "The Sixth" (1961), "All the Bloods" (1964), and "The Fox Above and the Fox Below" (1971), each reflecting cultural resistance or personal experiences intertwined with social commentary.

Personal Struggles

• Despite literary success, Arguedas battled severe depression throughout his life; a significant emotional crisis occurred in 1944 when he expressed feelings of despair about his existence as reflected in his writings.

José María Arguedas: Life, Legacy, and Cultural Resistance

The Final Years of Arguedas' Life

• José María Arguedas wrote his most intimate novel, El zorro de arriba y el Zorro de Abajo, during a period marked by travels, depression, and loneliness.

• On November 28, 1969, he tragically took his own life in a bathroom at La Molina Agrarian University after suffering from severe depression. He passed away on December 2nd after four days of agony.

• His funeral was a poignant event featuring violins, harps, and scissor dancers as per his wishes. Initially buried in Lima, his remains were moved to Andahuailas in 2004.

Arguedas' Cultural Impact

• Arguedas is recognized as a cultural translator who bridged the gap between Andean and Western cultures.

• In his acceptance speech for the Inca Garcelazo de la Vega Prize in 1968, he declared: "I am not acculturated. I am a Peruvian who proudly... speaks Christian and Indian, Spanish and Quechua."

• His work embodies themes of cultural resistance and tenderness; he transformed personal pain into artistic expression through song.