Don Segundo Sombra (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)

At a glance:

Characters Discussed

Don Segundo Sombra (seh-GEWN- doh SOHM-brah), an elderly Argentine gaucho who for five years allows Fabio to accompany him in his wanderings and instructs him in the life and the culture of the pampas. He then persuades Fabio to accept the responsibility of the ranch he has inherited and stays with him until he gets established.

Fabio (FAH-bee-oh), a waif who turns to Sombra for understanding, and in many adventures with him learns courage and self-reliance.

Two aunts, who rear Fabio without interest or affection.

Don Fabio Cáceres (KAH- seh-rehs), Fabio’s father, who ignores him as a child but later wills him a ranch and a fortune.

Pedro Barrales (PEH-droh bah- RRAH-lehs), a one-time gaucho companion who brings Fabio news of his inheritance.

Don Leandro Galvan (leh-AHN- droh gahl-VAHN), a rancher and later Fabio’s guardian.

Paula, a fickle country girl over whom Fabio duels with a rancher’s son.

Bibliography:

Alonso, Carlos J. The Spanish American Regional Novel: Modernity and Autochthony. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1990. Discusses representative novels, illustrating the search for an autochthonous artistic expression. Focuses on the complexity of Don Segundo Sombra’s discourse, noting the text’s reference to its own process of production.

Beardsell, Peter R. “Güiraldes’ Role in the Avant-Garde of Buenos Aires.” Hispanic Review 42, no. 3 (Summer, 1974): 293-309. Explores Güiraldes’ participation in the avant-garde movement of the 1920’s, and shows how this is reflected in his poetry and narrative. Concludes that Don Segundo Sombra would not have been possible without the influence of avant-garde literature.

Fitz, Earl E. Rediscovering the New World. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1991. Approaches the writings of the Americas as a cohesive literary type. Compares Güiraldes to writers such as Mark Twain and William Faulkner, exploring how their works transcend the local to attain the universal, representing “deep regionalism.”

Franco, Jean. Spanish American Literature Since Independence. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1973. Compares Fabio’s training to a spiritual exercise and emphasizes Don Segundo’s spirituality. The regional setting of the novel is seen as conducive to attaining spiritual goals away from the industrialized world.

Vazquez Amaral, José. The Contemporary Latin American Narrative. New York: Las Americas, 1970. Includes the chapter “Ricardo Güiraldes and the Metaphysical Gaucho: Don Segundo Sombra,” in which Vazquez discusses Güiraldes’ “Argentinity” and the importance of Don Segundo Sombra as the summation of the entire literature of the gaucho.