José María Arguedas offers an entry point  into the complex intersection of indigenous Andean culture and Western influence in Peru through his text “The Yawar Fiesta.” As we explore this annual festival, it is interesting to see how it symbolizes the struggle between indigenous and Spanish colonialism. 

One of the first things that came to mind was the Spanish bullfighting or racing or even the San Fermin Festival. From my understanding, bulls are especially significant within Spanish culture as they represent strength, power, and virility. They are often associated with masculinity and courage, and their image can be found in various aspects of Spanish culture, including heraldry, folklore, and religious iconography. Through this it becomes clear how they view themselves relative to indigenous peoples.

Another central theme I found particularly interesting is the lash between tradition and modernity. The Yawar Fiesta serves as a focal point for this conflict. On one hand, it embodies the deep-rooted traditions of the indigenous people, reflecting their reverence for nature and their ancestral customs. On the other hand, the influx of Western ideas and practices, symbolized by the introduction of the bullfight, threatens to erode these traditions and reshape the cultural landscape. For this reason, Arguedas appears to be turned off by the festival, describing it as a mockery of Indigenous tradition. He eventually notes however that “old norms are being broken with progressive rapidity.”(p.151). The novel delves into the complexities of power dynamics and oppression. The indigenous people in the story are marginalized and exploited by the ruling class, reflecting broader issues of social injustice and inequality. The Yawar Fiesta itself becomes a symbolic battleground where these power dynamics play out, as the indigenous communities assert their agency in the face of external forces seeking to dominate and control them.

The text is a bit difficult to follow as there are many concepts and terms to keep up with. However this complexity in language perhaps serves as an indicator of a complexity in identity. I am sure that Arguedas struggled to reconcile two worlds with distorted power dynamics, similar to Guaman Poma. The author embodies the tension between his indigenous heritage and his education in Western schools. His internal struggle to reconcile these conflicting aspects of his identity reflects the broader challenge of navigating the intricacies of cultural identity in a rapidly changing world.

Overall, the text is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that offers insights into the human experience and the complexities of cultural interaction. Through its richly drawn characters and evocative storytelling, the novel invites readers to contemplate questions of tradition, power, and identity, making it a timeless and resonant work of literature. The only question I have yet to understand is the logic in navigating the gods of the indigenous and that of the Catholic God. Pages 153 onwards discuss the old gods such as the Wamani and how “do not meddle in men’s affairs’ ‘ and the Catholic God is separate. I hope to gain a bit more understanding on these distinctions.