Análisis de la novela los Sangurimas con las representaciones de la realidad costeña actual.

Abstract

The novel Los Sangurimas (1934) by José de la Cuadra constitutes a profound structural representation of power relations, hierarchy, and social organization in Ecuador’s coastal region during the 20th century. Framed within the tradition of social realism, the work presents a symbolic order in which patriarchy, normalized violence, parallel justice systems, and rural marginality operate as foundational pillars sustaining the community dynamic. Thus, the main objective of this research was to analyze the sociocultural representations in Los Sangurimas in relation to the current reality of Ecuador’s coastal region, considering both the continuities and transformations of the narrative, symbolic, and structural elements of the novel. A qualitative approach with an exploratory design was adopted, combining literary analysis with social research tools such as semi-structured interviews and focus groups. For that, the findings revealed clear parallels between the conditions depicted in the novel and those currently observed in rural communities, such as the persistence of patriarchal power, land conflicts, the prevalence of informal justice systems, female subordination, and the absence or weakness of state institutions and, additionally, relevant transformations were identified, such as greater access to education, changing gender roles, and the growing influence of contemporary legal discourse. Ultimately, the research concluded that Los Sangurimas remains a valuable analytical resource for understanding the sociocultural configurations of Ecuador’s coastal region across different historical periods, revealing the continuity and evolution of certain social patterns.