Puerto Rican Literature at first repressed by the Spanish Colonial Government, evolved from the art of oral story telling to the present day status of being amongst the best in Latin-America.
Early History
Puerto Rican literature got off to a late start. This was due to the fact that the Spanish Colonial Government, that ruled over Puerto Rico at that time, feared that Puerto Rico would develop its own social and cultural identity and eventually seek its independence. Therefore, written works by the native islanders was prohibited and punishable by prison terms or banishment. The island which depended on an agricultural economy had an illiteracy rate of over 80% in the beginning of the 19th century. The only people who had access to the libraries and who could afford books were either appointed Spanish government officials or wealthy land owners. The poor had to resort to oral story telling in what is traditionally known in Puerto Rico as Coplas and Decimas.
The island's first writers were commissioned by the Spanish Crown to document only the cronical history of the island. Among these writers were Father Diego de Torres Vargas who wrote about the history of Puerto Rico, Father Francisco Ayerra de Santa Maria who wrote poems about religious and historical themes and Juan Ponce de Leon II who was commissioned to write a general description of the West Indies. These documents were then sent to the National Archives in Sevilla, Spain, where they were kept. Puerto Rican history however, was to change forever with the arrival of the first printing press from Mexico in 1806. That same year Juan Rodriguez Calderon (a Spaniard) wrote and published the first book in the island, titled "Ocios de la Juventud". In 1851, the Spanish appointed governor of Puerto Rico, Juan de la Pezuela Cevallo, founded the Royal Academy of Belles Letters. This institution contributed greatly to the intellectual and literary progress of the island. The school licensed primary school teachers, formulated school methods and held literary contests. However, only those with government positions and the wealthy benefited from the formation of the institution. It was ironic that the first Puerto Rican writers came from some of the island's wealthest families, who were fed up with the injustices of the Spanish Crown.
19th Century
The first written works in Puerto Rico were influenced by the Romanticism era of the time. Journalists were the first writers to express their political views in the newspapers of the day and later in the books which they authored. Through their books and novels, they expressed what they believed were the social injustices, which included slavery and poverty, bought upon the common Puerto Rican by the Spanish Crown. Many of these writers were considered to be dangerous liberals by the colonial government and were banished from the island. Some went to the Dominican Republic, Cuba or New York where they continued to write about patriotic themes while in exile. The literature of these writers helped fuel the desire of some to revolt against the Spanish government in Puerto Rico, resulting in the failed attempt known as the Grito de Lares in 1868.
When the Americans invaded Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War in 1898, many members of the Puerto Rican literary class welcomed them believing that eventually Puerto Rico would be granted its independence. Instead, Puerto Rico was declared a territory of the United States. The new government failed to realize that Puerto Rico was already a nation with its own culture and proceeded to Americanize the island. Many writers and poets expressed their opposition by writing about patriotic themes through their work. Puerto Rican literature continued to flourish.
20th Century
During the early part of the 20th century, many Puerto Ricans moved to the eastern coast of the United States in search of a better way of life. Most settled in cities such as New York and Chicago. There they faced racial discrimination and other hardships. A sub-culture known as the Nuyorican Movement came about as result of a people trying to maintain their cultural identity in a foreign land. This movement is composed by a group of intellectuals which includes writers and poets who express their experiences as Nuyoricans living in the U.S.. Puerto Rican literature has crossed boundaries and barriers and is considered amongst the best in the Latin-American community.
Books and Novels
Some of Puerto Rico's earliest writers were influenced by the teachings of Rafael Cordero. Among these was Dr. Manuel A. Alonso, the first Puerto Rican writer of notable importance. In 1845 he published "El Gibaro", a collection of verses whose main themes were the poor Puerto Rican country farmer. Eugenio Maria de Hostos who wrote "La Peregrinacion de Bayolan" in 1863, which told about social-science topics. Alejandro Tapia y Rivera also known as the Father of Puerto Rican Literature, ushered in a new age of historiography with the publication of "The Historical Library of Puerto Rico". Cayetano Coll y Toste was a renowned Puerto Rican historian and writer. His work "The Indo-Antillano Vocabulary" is valuable in understanding the way the Tainos lived. Dr. Manuel Zeno Gandia in 1899 wrote "La Charca" and told about the harsh life in the remote and nountinous coffee regions in Puerto Rico. Antonio S. Pedreria decribed in his work "Insularismo" about the cultural survival of the Puerto Rican identity after the American invasion. Other notable Puerto Rican writers include Enrique A. Laguerre, who was nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature and Rene Marques whose "Oxcart" follows the hardships of a Puerto Rican family that moves from the island to New York.
Poetry
Maria Bibiana Benitez was Puerto Rico's first poetist and playwright. In 1832 she published her first poem "La Ninfa de Puerto Rico". Her niece was Alejandrina Benitez de Gautier, whose "Aguinaldo Puertorriqueño", published in 1843, gave her the recognition of being one of the island's great poets. Alejandrina's son Jose Gautier Benitez is considered by many to be Puerto Rico's greatest Romanticism era poet. Poets Jose de Diego, Virgilio Davila, Luis Llorens Torres, Nemesio Canales and Juan Antonio Corretjer where independence advocates who wrote poems with patriotic themes. Lola Rodriguez de Tio was the poetist who wrote the lyrics to the revolutionary "Borinqueña" used by the revolusionists in the Grito de Lares. Mercedes Negron Muñoz wrote under the name "Clara Lair" published "A ras del Cristal" in 1937. In her poem she describes the everyday struggles of the common Puerto Rican. However, it was Julia de Burgos who was to be considered by many as the greatest poet to be born in Puerto Rico. The inspiration that she felt for her love of Puerto Rico is reflected in her poem "El Rio Grande de Loiza".
Currently
Puerto Rican literature has continued to evolve with a new breed of writers. Among these are Piri Thomas, Rosario Ferré, Mayra Calvani, Esmeralda Santiago and Jesus Colon. The latest crop of poets include Mayra Santos Febres and Edwin Torres.
See also
External link
Last updated: 05-23-2005 05:39:13
