Peru | Lecturia

José María Arguedas: The Pongo’s Dream. Summary and analysis

José María Arguedas - El sueño del pongo. Resumen y análisis

The Pongo’s Dream (El sueño del pongo) is a folk tale compiled by the Peruvian writer José María Arguedas that tells the story of a humble indigenous servant, known as the pongo, who suffers constant humiliation and abuse at the hands of his master, the owner of the hacienda. However, one day, the pongo dares to tell of a dream in which both master and servant appear before Saint Francis and are judged for their actions in life. Through this parable, Arguedas explores Peruvian society’s profound inequalities and injustices while affirming the cultural resistance and hope for the liberation of the indigenous people.

José María Arguedas: The Pongo’s Dream

José María Arguedas - El sueño del pongo 2

The Pongo’s Dream (El sueño del pongo), a folk tale compiled by José María Arguedas, narrates the life of a pongo, an indigenous servant in a hacienda, who suffers constant humiliation and abuse at the hands of his master. Despite his humble status and frail appearance, the pongo carries out his tasks diligently, although always surrounded by an aura of sadness and resignation. One day, the pongo tells his boss about a dream in which they both appear dead and are judged very peculiarly by San Francisco, revealing a profound reflection on justice and human dignity.

Julio Ramón Ribeyro: The Featherless Buzzards

“The Featherless Buzzards,” a short story by the Peruvian writer Julio Ramón Ribeyro, tells the story of two brothers, Efraín and Enrique, who live with their grandfather, Don Santos, and a pig called Pascual. The children are forced to collect garbage in the streets of Lima to feed the animal. The plot revolves around the brothers’ daily struggle to survive in an environment of extreme poverty and abuse at the hands of their grandfather. It is a story that reflects the harsh reality of the marginalized in an indifferent society.