Horacio Quiroga: A Slap in the Face
‘A Slap in the Face’ is a short story by Horacio Quiroga, published in Fray Mocho on 28 January 1916, which explores violence and revenge in the obrajes of Alto Paraná. The story, set in the Paraná jungle, opens with Acosta, an unscrupulous steward who traffics caña among the labourers on the steamship Meteoro, unleashing chaos that is eventually brutally repressed. When order is restored, only one mensú is punished, tied to the ship’s mast. Unable to hold Acosta accountable, Korner, a ruthless skipper, turns his anger on the immobilised mensú, slapping him in the face. This abuse of power unleashes a simmering conflict that will continue for years.
