Week 9 - Mario Vargas Llosa - Captain Pantoja and the Special Service - Nicholas Latimer - On Repetition, and Psychological Disorientation

 I enjoyed my reading of Captain Pantoja! As intended, I found the plot comedic, and the content a bit more exciting than some of the other literature we’ve looked at. With that said though, past books have occasionally introduced an equal amount of absurdity (taken from the magical realism stuff) and well-written characters - although it was the entire premise of this story that felt more light-hearted than others. I will note, however, that watching Jon’s lecture and learning more about the actual atrocities that this and other military groups were committing - was pretty off-putting, so I am surprised that the writing was so well received. 

This crazy ‘adventure’ that Pantoja embarks on with the SSGFRI, to us as readers, comes out of the blue, as we are introduced to this character as an already successful, impressive captain - who is being tasked with a new mission (somewhat like the beginning of an Avengers movie). As the organization expands, provides satisfaction to some, and havoc for others, and crumbles near the end of the story - Pantoja and his family are left somewhat in the same boat as they began. That is, if you can get over the embarrassment and shame which (at least Pochita) has endured. But what I wanted to note about this great rise and fall, was how we are once again faced with the theme of repetition and circularity. In fact, Llosa makes a point of highlighting this - ending the book exactly as it opens, whereby the ever-faithful and innocent Pochita urges Pantoja out of bed and off to work and his new job in the new village. Where repetition ends in the final pages of 100 years of solitude, Llosa forces readers to sit with the sins of our captain, giving us the image of “life goes on” after all the ‘excitement’. 

…

Another theme I thought would be fun to talk about is the idea that the Amazon jungle acts as a sort of mystical, psychologically disorienting place. Personally, I like nature, and feel adventurous when I’m out in the middle of nowhere, although I’ve never been in a jungle before, I imagine this excitement would grow (but not to the point of cult-joining). From Llosa’s intentions - the jungle is both a place of extremes (i.e. Sexual freedom and promiscuity, as well as religious commitment and salvation exhibited by Brother Francisco & gang). Not only are these extremities possible, they seem to grow and spread like a plague - literally leading to the death of soldiers. This ran parallel to the climactic secret service movement, occasionally becoming more extreme and grotesque than the immoral habits of the SSGFRI. For whatever reason, this environment was fostering ideologies that were pretty unexpected, and must have been intended as a symbol for something beyond the extremes of religion. 

While the secret service sought to protect innocent civilians from sexual assault by soldiers, Francisco’s pro-sacrifice organization seemed to do more harm than good. My question for this week is what you think the purpose of the monks' involvement in the plot was? I have a few ideas, but want to hear other people's interpretations too.

Comments

  1. Daniel OrizagaMarch 13, 2023 at 3:13 PM

    "For whatever reason, this environment was fostering ideologies that were pretty unexpected, and must have been intended as a symbol for something beyond the extremes of religion." Latin America is full of those cults that we could describe as "strange." In fact, Vargas Llosa himself has written a novel about one of them, in Brazil. Unlike this short novel, rather farcical in tone, the other is based on a true story from the 19th century. This can also be a form of "repetition": it is as if the author returned to some themes for now to treat them from another tone, an exercise in literary style.

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  2. Curtis HRMarch 13, 2023 at 7:40 PM

    Hi Nicholas,

    I really appreciate you drawing parallels between this book and 100 Years of Solitude. I always felt like there was a connection, but could never place my finger on it. But you're exactly right. When I finished Captain Pantoja, when I read the last lines, I instantly flipped open the beginning of the book and realized its cyclical nature - the innocent Pochita wakes up Pantoja, again at his new job in a 'extreme' environment (the hot weather vs cold weather symbolism would be interesting to talk about too).

    And to your point about the Special Service against the Brotherhood of the Ark, I agree with you there as well. I believe both of these groups to represent something, maybe something of value in the beginning (the desire to reduce sexual assaults in the Amazon is a noble cause, also admirable is the ability to freely congregate and practice religious freedoms), yet soon turn to the extremes, which bring out the worst of these two interests. On one hand you have unbridled sexual passion and lust, which brings great threats to public safety, and the other you have disorganized cult practices that end in the crucifixion of many innocent lives. In either case you have the downfall of seemingly well-meaning organizations when they reach the 'extreme'.

    Great post!

    Curtis HR

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