Indigenist Novel Analysis

The Huasipungos

The evident crisis in this “Indigenist" novel is the social and racial oppression of the Indians. Throughout the whole book Don Alfonso Pereira, Uncle Julia, and Mr. Chapy (to name a few) have referred to them as “cholo” which is a very derogatory term for a man of Mexican and Indian decent. They also use negative words surrounding them to describe them as dirty or low class. From the Indians perspective they were being used, mistreated, and worked to death. They felt that they deserved to live in their land since they worked on it for Don Alfonso, the landowner. The Indians were just tying to do their work so they could live on the land. From Don Alfonso’s perspective the indians were there for the sole purpose of working …show more content…
When searching for breastfeeding indian mothers to take the place of Doña Lolita, when he speculated their children he commented on how none of them were healthy, as if the conditions they provided made for healthy humans. They were used for breast feeding which would cause their children to pass away due to abandonment. When the Indian mother found out about her deceased son instead of consoling her, they called her stupid for not knowing how it happened, and erased themselves of blame saying “What could I have done?” having no remorse or sorrow for the woman. When they were examining the new women to use for the breast feeding they were speculating on their milk, questioning if was even good for the children, and suggesting it was was for their children. They were disrespected and used as thought they were indispensable. Don Alfonso was always calling them “Indian whores” or “indian bitches” in anger. He used them as sexual objects for his own pleasure. Then after the act of raping the Indian woman he left her there abused and said “they make love like animals” enraged that upon being bombarded with aggressive lust, wasn't thrilled to be being intimate with him. He said that they are an “inferior race,” so not only did he just rape one of the indians women (who was married) he got angry at her and called her inferior because when he was raping her she wasn't enthusiastic about it. After one of the women died, it was even hard for them …show more content…
He continued his greedy behavior over anything he could. He exploited the farm and believed that he could use the Indians until they died. For example on page 83 he says “I can squeeze all I want from my land, it’s mine…From the Indians, they're mine…” He became selfish and centered around the profit because the money came easy, and wanted it quicker. It was he who called the indians foolish and trivial, but it was also him who could see the revolt coming until it was too late. He fled the Hacienda in cowardly like fashion to tattle on the indians, and to ensure his