Campus Access Only

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of University of the Pacific. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

An inter-American study of William Sydney Porter's Latin American stories

Author

Anthony Joseph Gutierrez, University of the Pacific

Date of Award

1968

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Department

Inter-American Studies

First Advisor

Ruth Marie Faurot

First Committee Member

Walter A. Payne

Second Committee Member

Larry L. Pippins

Third Committee Member

Anne W. Passel

Abstract

Statement of the problem. This paper is an examination of William Sydney Porter's Latin American stories in light of their inter-American significance. The basic point of view from which the study is made is that Porter is a North American writing about Latin American at the beginning of the twentieth century. The paper examines the Latin American and North American characters which appear in the stories and catalogs them into groups of stereotypes.

The aim of this study is to discover Porter's ideas, views, and concepts of Latin America, Latin Americans, and North Americas in Latin America, as they are expressed in his stories. This study cannot establish what Porter's personal thoughts on Latin America and Latin Americans actually were, for Porter never published a first-person report of these thoughts. Much of the study depends entirely on the views, opinions, and feelings of the speakers and characters in the stories. Many of Porter's North American characters demonstrate a negative attitude toward Latin America and its people, an attitude which is in keeping with their characters. This is particularly true of Porter's North American soldier of fortune type, speculator type, adventurer type, and fugitive type. However, in order to point out the general attitude toward Latin America which is developed and expressed by Porter in his stories, it will be necessary to lump together the views and opinions of all his speakers and characters.

Pages

76

Recommended Citation

Gutierrez, Anthony Joseph. (1968). An inter-American study of William Sydney Porter's Latin American stories. University of the Pacific, Thesis. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/1657