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Celebration of Fantasy

Analysis

Ollantaytambo, Peru

Context/Current Issues

Symbolism

~ Animal Symbolism ~

¡Hola!  Bienvenidos a mi página de simbolismo animal.  For those of you who can’t read Spanish, that was a pathetic but sincere attempt at welcoming you to an exciting page dedicated to my interpretations of Eduardo Galeano’s symbols in the abrazo “Celebration of Fantasy.” 

For as long as I can remember, English teachers have been trying to get students to read deeper and think about the imagery and symbolism that authors often use.  Because of my early training in this manner, I am not surprised to find myself wondering why Galeano picked the animals that he did.  Any amateur can write a story about drawing a picture of a cat, dog, or smiley face on some kids’ hands to make them happy.  I decided that Galeano deliberately mentioned exotic animals like condors, owls, and dragons to make a deeper statement within the abrazo.  In order to comprehend this profound message, I needed to understand what the animals symbolize.

“Symbolism is the ancient language of the deep, the language of the gods and magicians. It is the language of all that is sacred and holy, numinous, mysterious and elusive. It is the language of moonlight, of dreams, of waiting, as opposed to the sunlit languages of the workaday world.” (Symbolism)  Some of you may have wondered what on earth I was saying at the top of the page because you don’t understand Spanish.  Likewise, I could not understand Galeano’s message without understanding the language of symbolism.

The Internet is a vast oasis of information on any subject you can imagine.  There are pages and pages of animal symbolism.  Most of my information comes from the following web sites: Pagan Dawn and Pagan Religion.  Though I must note that I neither endorse nor oppose Paganism as a religion, these sites were quite helpful in my research.  Furthermore, I found that many cultures and religions have similar symbolic associations for these animals.

Now that I have given you an overview of how and why I came about the information I’m sharing, I can continue.  Galeano starts by drawing a pig on a little kid’s hand.  Most people do not think positively of this smelly creature.  It is not surprising to find that most cultures denote the pig as a symbol for an untamed nature, ignorance, dirtiness, and greed.  I’m sure at some point every one has insulted another by calling them a pig ­ for either living like a slob, or eating sloppily or gluttonously.  Keeping this in mind, what is Galeano trying to say?  Though he is somewhat self-critical of his selfishness, he still refuses to give up his pen, which he was using “to write down all sorts of boring notes.”  In my opinion, Galeano was implying that he thought the child was being presumptuous and greedy by asking for the pen. 

At this point I must mention that there is another interpretation one can heed.  In a few cultures the pig is a symbol for good luck.  It is possible that Galeano merely wished the unfortunate waif better times in the future.  However, the abrazo seems to have a theme of social injustice and I think that Galeano’s actions stand for those of a society as a whole.  The children are even described negatively like little pigs: their little hands cracked by the dirt and cold, their skin of burnt leather.  When I read this I can almost imagine the town of Ollantaytambo and the poor children living there in little pigsties.

The other animals are those that the children requested.  They all have significances that differed greatly from the pig that Galeano had drawn.  I thought it was interesting that Galeano mentioned them in pairs.  First there are the condor and snake.  These both suggest evil; the snake is evil and impulsive while the condor signifies protection from such danger.  Though they may seem contradictory, both animals are voracious predators.  Similarly, vultures and serpents (their close relatives) have negative implications and invoke fear.  The next animals are both birds.  Of all the species to choose from, Galeano mentioned parrots and owls.  Many people know that the owl is a symbol of wisdom, but did you know it also means clairvoyance and insight?  I found it quite fitting that parrots symbolize communication and socialization because people often think about parrots having the ability to talk.  Finally, Galeano mentions two imaginary creatures: ghosts and dragons.  Though I can’t deny or agree to the existence of ghosts, I think it’s important that the children desired such images.  They imply a mystery and fear of the unknown. 

The animals and symbols for which the children yearn stand for ideals that they need and desire in real life.  They want protection from the evils of poverty and starvation.  Snakes can also mean a rebirth, which could better the children’s lives.  Communication, socialization, and wisdom are products of civilization.  The unfortunate children of the poor and desolate Peruvian town do not have the luxuries of children born in industrialized and capitalistic countries like the United States.  The children want the images of parrots and owls like they need the ideals that they stand for.  The mysterious, mythological ghosts and dragons the children crave imply an indefinite uncertainty. Perhaps Galeano’s hopeful life of opportunities and benefits is the unknown that the children desire; or it could be that the poor children of Peru themselves, that the world almost ignores, that they want to bring attention to.

These children are desperate and begging for temporary ink images that mean infinitely more in their imaginations.  All the while, Galeano is forcing them to stay in their place.  I wonder if I were in his position, would I have given up my pen?  Or would I too have been selfish.  I think that Galeano is trying to bring attention to this situation through this somewhat lighthearted abrazo.  All too often people neglect the poor or label them as dirty, ignorant, and greedy.  They underestimate the hardships the poor in underdeveloped countries experience.  There are only two ways to survive: to fight it out, or to flee.  The animals the children ask for can all fit into one or both of these categories.  While they aim for this “fight or flight” solution, the rest of the world is busy keeping them in their place ­ in the mud living like pigs.

On the outside, this abrazo is a lighthearted story about fantasy and imagination.  In reality, it is a cold, depressing look at the sad state of society.  When I first read this story, I liked it in comparison to some of the abrazos with political statements I didn’t know a lot about, or anti-organized religion sentiments.  I thought it was merely a short anecdote about a little town, with a humorous punch line in the end.  After thinking further about the possible symbolism of the animals, I like it even more.  It makes a powerful social statement in an endearing way.  I think it is always important to look beyond an author’s words.  There are often profound significances rooted deep within the prose, often in the foreign language of symbolism.