Bodies in struggle, La derrota de lo real by Pablo Brescia

Abstract

We intend to present some observations and reflections on the concept of dystopia applied to the stories in the book referred to. As a travel itinerary we will stop at three points: dystopia as the place we should not reach, where the individual’s freedom and memory is questioned. We will present some general observations on the volume, to demonstrate the chronological order of texts, and that it proposes from an epic past to a prospective look on how the struggle persists. The crossing of tensions between men and women, memory and forgetfulness, past and present, and, ultimately, between life and death, will be our focus of attention. To investigate this we opted for three stories: “A problem of difficult solution”, “A day in the life of Mr. Black” and “Mr. White loses and recovers”. We will address how the tensions mentioned manifest in the bodies of the characters. The turning point: What happens when someone or some or many do not adapt to the established order? We will try to make the bridges visible in the stories, where subversion and resistance make nest in the condition of people. We will try to demonstrate how the author faces his characters to destiny in the self-consciousness of taking charge of their lives, and, to the fascination of dystopia that questions us as readers.