Reading and Savage Literature in Roberto Bolaño as a Device for Critical Emancipation

Abstract

This article investigates the elements of traces, doubles, and allegories in the works of Roberto Bolaño, emphasizing their interconnection and influence in delineating the boundary between fiction and reality. By analyzing novels such as Noturno do Chile (2004) and Estrela distante (2009), it examines how Bolaño employs the concept of the double to expose hidden aspects of history, linking them to traumatic political events, especially in the context of the Chilean dictatorship. Furthermore, it demonstrates that these elements are an integral part of the psychic structure of the individual, as proposed by Freud. The discussion on traces explores the ability to break through superficial layers of reading, inviting readers on an emancipatory journey through Latin American history and literature. The approach suggests a detective and archaeological reading, encouraging the exploration of absent-present meanings. By examining Bolaño’s narrative methods, the article highlights the critical importance of these elements and their representations in contemporary Latin America.