There are several themes that stuck out to me while reading Teresa de la Parra’s Mama Blanca's Memoirs. Throughout the novel, de la Parra plays with the themes of gender, class, modernity, and idealism through the eyes of a child on a sugar plantation. The first thing that I found interesting is the time that the novel is set. I was expecting to read about the role of slavery in society through gruelling plantation work, however, Mama Blanca’s Memoirs gives a perspective of progress and change in Latin American that I wasn’t expecting by taking place shortly after the abolition of slavery in Venezuela. Building on this, the way that the class system is presented negotiates and mystifies the day-to-day affects of the class system in a way that I haven’t read before. De la Parra does this by invoking the image of wealth through objects like “crystal pitchers” (25) and “champagne glasses” (25) and observation of her mother’s “vanity” (26), while also providing few specifics on the place that Mama Blanca’s family ranks in the social hierarchy of Venezuelan society.
The lack of detail placed on the family’s social class in comparison to others through a child’s eyes makes an interesting statement that social class is something that is heavily conditioned and encouraged subconsciously into adulthood. Or perhaps, Mama Blanca didn’t find herself needing to repeatedly note their social position because her family’s position in society was all she was aware of. The narrator’s idyllic and childlike view of the plantation exemplifies the naivety instilled in upper class youth about their history and impact on society. De la Parra also expands on the perspective of social class by having the narrator’s main struggles be through her curly hair in a time where many were not given the luxury to worry about their beauty. It makes an interesting statement that in a time of progress, the future of the upper class (symbolized through the childhood narrator) still sees little change in their daily routine, struggles and quality of life.
Building on the example of the curls, this example combines the themes of gender, idealism, and progress in a very interesting way to me. The pressure to conform to the European beauty standards of straight hair speaks to the continued attempt to minimize Indigenous features even after abolition and therefore further cementing the social hierarchy. Carmen Maria’s concern for her daughter’s hair also speaks to the expectations placed on women, while also showing their role in society. Strive of European standards is again emphasized by Cousin Jauncho’s “admiration for Europe” (53). The daily and repetitive act of having her hair fixed shows that there is little effort to break from tradition amongst the upper classes. However, it could also be argued that Mama Blanca’s aversion to the daily traditional task that her mother forces on her symbolizes the transition from old to new ideals that is around the corner. However, for the time being, Mama Blanca continues to contribute aesthetic features to success in society by her statement that “Cousin Juancho wore his noble, well-brushed poverty with quiet dignity” (55) while also “carefully conceal[ing]” (55) it.
Having studied a bit of Latin American history before, I’ve never really thought about the role that vanity and aesthetics played in change for social progress. I’m torn on whether the importance of traditional appearances from the older characters in this novel speaks to how tradition stays the same or if it changes through the age of social progress. Therefore, do you believe that aesthetic appearance hindered the road to social change in Venezuela? Or maybe aesthetic ideals just suppressed those of a certain gender (as illustrated by Carmen Maria’s concern for Mama Blanca’s hair)? Mama Blanca herself takes note of her mother’s “vanity” (26), maybe this was a criticism for the social norms and expectations of the times, or maybe it just illustrated the appeal to authority that children are often forced to assimilate to.
Questions for the class: Do you think aesthetic appearance gives people power in society? And if so how? Does it hinder or advance female influence/power?
