Martín Fierro - Canto 7 - Análisis

Analysis of Canto 7 from Martín Fierro

Overview of the Structure

• The analysis focuses on Canto 7, which differs from previous cantos by using quatrains (4 verses) instead of the traditional sextets (6 verses).

Themes of Desperation and Flight

• The protagonist reflects on being labeled as a "vagabond," highlighting how troubles tend to escalate rather than diminish. This leads him to feel compelled to flee.

• He describes his dire situation: without family or possessions, he is in search of his children while feeling lost and aimless.

The Dance and Its Consequences

• A dance event is introduced, which the protagonist attends out of desperation; however, it foreshadows impending trouble due to his intoxication.

• Upon arriving at the dance, he experiences an urge to fight after seeing a couple, indicating a shift in mood influenced by alcohol. His comment about "falling people" serves as a double entendre that hints at conflict.

Escalation into Conflict

• The protagonist's taunts towards an African couple lead to escalating tensions; he uses derogatory language that provokes a response from the woman. This interaction illustrates themes of racial tension and aggression.

• As the altercation intensifies, he continues with racially charged remarks about creation myths related to different ethnic groups, showcasing societal prejudices present in the narrative.

Physical Confrontation

• After provoking further anger from the man accompanying the woman, a physical confrontation ensues where both parties prepare for violence—highlighting themes of machismo and honor among gauchos.

• The protagonist manages to evade initial attacks but ultimately engages in combat with a knife (facón), demonstrating survival instincts amidst chaos and danger. His description emphasizes both fear and adrenaline during this life-threatening moment.

Climax of Violence

The Agony of Death and Reflection

A Violent Encounter

• The narrative begins with a violent confrontation where the protagonist, referred to as "cierro," engages in a fierce battle, ultimately stabbing his opponent.

• As the opponent dies, "cierro" reflects on the agony of witnessing death, expressing that he will never forget this moment. He uses a Portuguese phrase indicating singing before dying.

Mourning and Respect

• Following the fight, "cierro" observes the emotional turmoil of his opponent's wife, who mourns her husband’s death like a wolf. Despite feeling compelled to silence her cries, he refrains out of respect for the deceased.

• The poem shifts its structure here; while primarily composed of four-line stanzas, this particular stanza contains ten lines reflecting heightened emotion.

Aftermath and Burial

• After cleaning his knife and mounting his horse, "cierro" learns that there was no proper farewell for the dead man; instead, he was simply wrapped in leather and buried without ceremony.