THE AVATAR IN PANAMA - Theses - Flinders University

2.2 Modernismo and its Masters: Darío and Quiroga The Avatar in Panamadisclosure. 26 His father tells him: “El rector me ha comunicado que noestás bien de salud, que padeces de insomnios, que comes poco”(334-335). By his own admission James suffers auditory hallucinationsas his mother’s voice emanates from her portrait; drunkenness also is apossibility as to the unreliability of the raconteur, although Jameshimself rules it out: “Os advierto que no estoy borracho. No he sidoloco” (333).James describes himself as his mother’s double -- “el retrato demi madre”, the reason his father refused to look at him, in his opinion(334). As a child, on returning home he finds his mother’s portraitcovered up and discovers all the furniture has been substituted “porotros de un gusto seco y frío” (335). When James is presented to hismother’s substitute, he approaches her “maquinalmente” and isovercome by fear as “aquellos ojos no tenían brillo alguno”. A strongstench oozes from her and “luego brotó de aquellos labios blancos, deaquella mujer pálida, pálida, pálida, una voz, una voz como si saliesede un cántaro gemebundo o de un subterráneo” (336). James threatensto divulge that “el doctor Leen es un cruel asesino; que su mujer es unvampiro; ¡que está casado mi padre con una muerta!” (337). Classic,grim imagery is prevalent; cadavers, nightmares, and foul stenches areemployed; the night is referred to as a sinister evil force to be reckonedwith: “una pálida y maleficiosa luz lunar” (334). The entire story is oneof doubles comprising two cities, Buenos Aires and London; twoperspectives, that of the narrator and of James; and two potentialrationalisations: that what has been recounted is either factual orhallucinatory -- the product of a deranged perception. The ambiguity of“Thanathopia”’s conclusion lends itself to a double scenario: either thereis a natural explanation (James is unstable), or a supernatural one (thestepmother is a vampire). Thus, “Thanathopia” is left open ended.In “Cuento de pascuas” the story teller is affected bysubstances rendering him potentially unreliable in his recollection offacts. Yet it is not only the drink but the dream state also whichfurnishes an alternative for the apparent extraordinary actions unfolding.After ingesting alcohol and pills his altered state is described as“poseído de extraña embriaguez”. 27 Like Jekyll and Hyde, the theme ofscience and the creation of magical elixirs are used: “llegó a fabricar unelixir que permite percibir de ordinario lo que únicamente por excepciónse presenta a la mirada de los hombres. Yo he encontrado ese secreto[…] tiene usted el milagro en estas pastillas comprimidas” (383). Thesocial gathering at which he is present adds to the confusion;mysterious events are viewed from a drug-induced state. At theconclusion of the story it is suggested the narration has been anightmare all along: “Nunca es bueno dormir inmediatamente después26 This madness is akin to that affecting the narrator in Maupassant’s “Le horla”.27 Darío, “Cuento de pascuas”, Cuentos completos, 383.100