Abstract

SILVEIRA, Shubert. Everyday Life in the Interior of Uruguay During the Dictatorship. On La Balada de Johnny Sosa by Mario Delgado Aparaín and Ojos de caballo by Henry Trujillo. Káñina [online]. 2025, vol.49, n.1, pp.133-158. ISSN 2215-2636.  http://dx.doi.org/10.15517/rk.v49i1.64839.

This article focuses on two emblematic novels in Uruguayan literature: La balada de Johnny Sosa, by Mario Delgado Aparaín, and Ojos de caballo, by Henry Trujillo. These works explore everyday life in the interior of Uruguay during the dictatorship. Through their protagonists, Johnny Sosa and Daniel Acosta, differences in the representation of daily life amid the political context are examined. Delgado Aparaín introduces Johnny Sosa, an Afro-descendant musician whose cultural identity is challenged by the dictatorship. The narrative highlights Johnny's struggle to maintain his authenticity in a repressive environment. On the other hand, Trujillo takes on a darker tone, exploring violence and despair in his portrayal of the Uruguayan interior. His characters face moral dilemmas amid pressing circumstances, revealing daily life marked by political violence. Both novels demonstrate how daily life is influenced by the dictatorship, either through small heroic acts of resistance or immersed in an undercurrent of violence. This analysis draws on Michel de Certeau's theory of everyday life, emphasizing how individuals unconsciously navigate a political and social context.

Keywords : Mario Delgado Aparaín; Henry Trujillo; everyday life; dictatorship; violence.

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