Quilito

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

23035

Title

Quilito

Language

es

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in Buenos Aires during patriotic festivities, this novel contrasts the vibrant public celebration with the quiet desperation of the Vargas household. It explores themes of social class, family honor, and the destructive power of prejudice through the tragic story of Quilito, a talented young man ruined by his family's inability to accept his lower-class origins.

Summary up to 500 words

Carlos María Ocantos' *Quilito* is a poignant social critique set in Buenos Aires, opening on May 25th amidst the city's festive atmosphere. The narrative contrasts the joyous public celebrations with the somber reality of the Vargas household, a modest home where financial struggle and rigid social hierarchies dictate daily life. Don Pablo Aquiles, a clerk earning eighty pesos a month, cannot afford a proper suit for the official ceremony, while his daughter Susana, a kind and intelligent girl, is forced to manage the domestic chaos alone. Her cousin, Quilito, suffers verbal abuse from his own relatives due to their prejudice against his humble background. Despite this, Susana develops a genuine affection for Quilito, recognizing his dignity and potential rather than the insults hurled at him. The tension escalates as Susana's mother, Misia Gregoria, and her uncle conspire to separate the cousins, viewing Quilito as a threat to their social standing. The family's cruelty is highlighted by the treatment of Pampa, the loyal servant who dreams of seeing the city's festivities, and the constant belittling of Quilito's family. The tragedy culminates on the night of San Juan. Consumed by guilt and the belief that he has irreparably dishonored his family, Quilito attempts to seek forgiveness but finds the doors of his home closed. Overwhelmed by despair and the weight of his perceived failure, he takes his own life by the river. His death leaves the family shattered, serving as a powerful indictment of the rigid social structures and the cruelty of judgment that destroyed an innocent life. The novel concludes with a reflection on the futility of such suffering against the indifferent flow of the river, underscoring the devastating impact of societal prejudice on individual lives.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction