Abstract

MUNOZ FIGUEROA, Jorge Antonio. Children and Childhood in Amparo Dávila’s Narrative. Valenciana [online]. 2021, vol.14, n.28, pp.29-55.  Epub Oct 18, 2021. ISSN 2007-2538.  https://doi.org/10.15174/rv.v13i28.516.

This paper analyses how childhood is represented in Amparo Dávila’s (1928-2020) short stories. While it is true that infants are not protagonists in Dávila’s work, it is also necessary to mention that many of her stories show ideas that refer clichés about the childhood, such as its characteristic innocence and happiness. However, such notions are questioned in Dávila’s prose as well as in some other contemporary writers’ narratives. In a global vision, we observe that those creators who belong to the Mid-century Generation (Generación de medio siglo) deteriorate the idea of the childhood as a wonderful age; rather, they characterize it in numerous cases as a lonely time, sometimes even a neglect one. Childhood as a topic has had various reformulations since the 1950’s. Among them, the input of this talented writer from Zacatecas takes us away from the typical images of childhood and allows us to elaborate interpretations that reveal how “the home’s kings” not always bring happiness nor fully enjoy the first years of their lives.

Keywords : Amparo Dávila; Mexican narrative; Childhood; Innocence; Loneliness.