Citation

Adán Lifante VM. Centro J. 2006; 18(1): 206-221.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Red de Revistas Cientificas América Latina y el Caribe, España y Portugal; Hunter College)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Domestic violence is an old social problem that has received little attention on Puerto Rican narrative until recently with the work of authors like Juan Antonio Ramos, Ana Lydia Vega, and Esmeralda Santiago. This essay argues that by giving domestic violence lite r a ry representation, co n temporary Puerto Rican writers aspire to make public an issue traditionally considered private. Also, this essay analyzes how, in accordance to the revisionist tendency in contemporary Puerto Rican narrative, authors do not characterize abused women as passive victims, but as survivors trying to end the cycle of violence by breaking the silence and by demanding social solidarity. In addition, this essay explores the metaphorical relation between battered women¿s efforts toward leaving their violent partners and the writer¿s attempt to reveal hidden cultural aspects and historical events.