Representation of Cowboy Myth in Spanish American Literature: Reaffirming Regional Identity

Abstract

Spanish American literature vividly depicts various cowboy archetypes, each illustrating distinct cultural identities and regional traits. This article explores the portrayals of cowboys—gauchos in Argentina, llaneros in Colombia and Venezuela, vaqueros and charros in Mexico, huasos in Chile, and morochucos in Peru—across notable literary works. The gaucho, illustrated in José Hernández’s Martin Fierro and Ricardo Güiraldes’s Don Segundo Sombra, transitions from a figure of hardship to a celebrated symbol of Argentine identity. Colombian and Venezuelan literature, as seen in José Eustasio Rivera’s The Vortex and Rómulo Gallegos’s Doña Bárbara, contrasts the traditional llanero lifestyle with the encroaching forces of modernization and exploitation. Mexican texts, including Juan Rulfo’s Pedro Páramo and various charro narratives, showcase the integration of cowboy culture into Mexican national identity and resistance. In Chilean literature, huasos embody rural life and national character as depicted in Pablo Neruda’s Canto General. Peruvian morochucos, featured in José María Arguedas’s Deep Rivers, reflect Andean heritage. These literary portrayals underscore the significant impact of indigenous and mestizo cultures on regional identities, portraying cowboy figures as symbols of resistance, cultural pride, and regional uniqueness amidst colonial and post-colonial shifts.