LOVE, LIBERATION, AND THE LYRIC:POLITICAL EROTICISM IN 20TH-CENTURY LATIN AMERICAN POETRY

Abstract

This research paper investigates the convergence of love, liberation, and political eroticism in 20th-century Latin American poetry, focusing on how poets employed thelyric form to intertwine personal desire with socio-political resistance. Through anin-depth analysis of works by Pablo Neruda, Gabriela Mistral, Octavio Paz, and Alejandra Pizarnik, the study reveals how erotic imagery served as a metaphor for liberation from oppressive structures such as colonialism, authoritarianism, and patriarchal norms. Situated within their historical and cultural contexts, these poetic expressions highlight the lyric’s capacity to challenge power dynamics and reimagine identity. The paper explores the historical backdrop, the role of eroticism as a political tool, the contributions of major poets, gender dynamics, and the lasting legacy of this tradition. By examining the interplay of the intimate and the political, this study underscores the lyric’s enduring power as a vehicle for resistance and transformation in Latin American literary discourse.