Paco Yunque by César Vallejo: A Metaphor for Colonial Oppression in Latin America

Abstract

In this article, we analyze the (children's) short story Paco Yunque by César Vallejo, which addresses social inequality and abuse of power in a narrative about Paco’s first day of school. Paco, the son of humble workers, faces hostility from his classmates and contempt from the teacher due to his social background. We present a critical analysis of the mistreatment suffered by Paco Yunque as a metaphor for the colonization process of Hispanic-American countries, where the main character represents the people subjugated by the colonizers, while Humberto Grieve, the mayor's son, symbolizes the colonizer who abuses power over the vulnerable. The dynamics between the characters reflect coronelismo/caciquismo, highlighting the persistence of exclusionary and anti-democratic practices in contemporary society. In this context, Vallejo denounces the enduring colonial legacy in Latin America, which perpetuates social exclusion, discrimination, and historical oppression. For the development of this study, we adopted bibliographic research as a methodological approach, combined with a qualitative perspective, to examine the school as a reflection of social injustice and oppression. This analysis is based on the studies of Vallejo (2020), Candido (2006), Oviedo (2001), Bellini (1997), and Ascencio (2013), among others. We conclude that Paco Yunque exposes structural inequalities and reveals how literature unveils discourses that sustain anti-democratic practices.