This week’s journey through Mario Vargas Llosa’s Captain Pantoja and the Special Service was a somewhat entertaining read. The tale conveyed a sense of exoticism, as the lascivious themes were played out against a backdrop of formality, which was entirely new to me. As emphasized in the lecture, the book cleverly mocks seriousness through seriousness. I was particularly impressed by the use of military dispatches as a narrative tool, which highlighted the extreme formality of the work. One of the dispatches sent by Captain Pantoja to his superior even went so far as to report his amorous encounters under his experimentation with porpoise oil, a natural aphrodisiac, in meticulous details: “He consequently found himself with the need to solicit from his wife and obtain from her, during the week in question, intimate relations on an average of twice daily…, since the undersigned was in the habit of having relations of an intimate matrimonial nature at a rate of once every ten days before coming to Iquitos and once every three days after arriving…” (66). One of Vargas Llosa’s techniques that particularly tickled my funny bone was his penchant for exaggeration, particularly in the details of mundane matters. This is made apparent in Pocha’s letter to her sister, wherein she vividly described the hookers’ behaviour: “They walk a straight line and look them in the eyes so fresh it stirs up some of the men to grab them by their boobs.” (54)
Captain Pantoja and the Special Service is undoubtedly a masterful work of satire that employs humour and irony to expose the absurdities of power, bureaucracy, and society. One aspect that particularly captivated me was the perpetual appearance of the Brothers of the Ark, a cult-like religious group founded and led by Brother Francisco, throughout the novel. I believe that the Brothers of the Ark represented a grassroots, alternative form of spirituality that serves as a counterforce to the powerful and established Catholic Church in 20th-century Peruvian society. Though the religion’s rituals and practices were peculiar and amusing (as in the tone in which Pocha used to describe the ritual in her letter, not the crucifixions of course), as illustrated by Pocha’s reaction to the crucifixion of animals, “This religion has a mania for crucifying animals and I don’t like that because every morning I find cockroaches, butterflies, spiders nailed to her little crosses and even a mouse the other day” (54), it still serves its purpose in highlighting the differences between organized religion and more unconventional forms of spiritual expression.
I believe that the Brothers of Ark also serves as a warning about the perilous nature of fanaticism. The followers of Brother Francisco were depicted as blindly devoted to him, “The people listened to him hypnotized, the women were crying and got down on their knees.” (53) As the story progresses, this unbridled loyalty transforms into dangerous fanaticism, with attempts at human crucifixion escalating towards the end of the book. This narrative arc also hints at the protagonist, Captain Pantoja’s, own fanaticism in his pursuit of perfecting the Special Service, which ultimately unleashes an uncontrollable sexual appetite in Iquitos.
Question: Personally, I have found that exaggeration serves as an effective literary tool that contributes to the humorous atmosphere of the novel, occasionally eliciting laughter. Do you share my perspective on the impact of exaggeration in the book? Why and why not?
Although it is not the only formula, exaggeration is one of the mechanisms for creating comic situations, and from the beginning this novel is full of them. But within that plot another one is being woven, which seems truly dark to me: that of the Brothers of the Ark. It is a sinister counterpoint that you have understood very well in your reading. What are the limits of the humorous tone to tell a story like that of this extravagant sect?
Hi,
I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on Captain Pantoja and the Special Service, I think that in some ways you’ve opened my mind to the comedic elements of the story. In full honesty, I didn’t find the novel particularly funny, and though humor is subjective, I think I was just thrown off by the exaggeration and objectification of women. Although you’ve highlighted that this exaggeration throughout the novel and its themes, may be the comedic element itself, and you’ve highlight some key points of this in your response. I think if I were to read the novel again, with this in mind I may find it to be more humorous.
Thank you!
Hi Shade!
I agree with you in the sense that the exaggeration used by Llosa was the main thing I found humorous throughout the novel. I also really liked your discussion of the Brothers of the Ark and how they serve as a warning, it is good that there is still a take away even when the book comes across as somewhat un-serious in moments. To your question, I agree with your perspective on exaggeration in this book. I feel as though without the use of it, Llosa would not have been able to discuss such taboo and serious topics in a comical way.
Hi Shade, I enjoyed your post! I think exaggeration is definitely an effective tool for comedy, and Vargas Llosa uses it well in this novel. I think contrast is also an important one that he uses too. Exaggeration, especially when combined with contrast, can be a good way to emphasise how absurd things are.
Great reflection. “I believe that the Brothers of the Ark represented a grassroots, alternative form of spirituality that serves as a counterforce to the powerful and established Catholic Church in 20th-century Peruvian society.” This is a great point, one that I haven’t thought of while reading, but I really like this. To briefly answer your question, I share your perspective on the role exaggeration had on the comical nature of the book. However, it did take time for me to get used to it, as at first I was caught taking things to ‘literally’ (seriously).
– Daniel C