captain pantoja and the special service

Captain Pantoja and the Special Service was written by Mario Vargas Llosa in 1973. I decided to read this novel because I'd heard of the author before, namely about the book "The Time of the Hero." I really wanted to like this book, but truthfully I was in two minds about it. Depending on factors such as whether I was fresh out of class about colonialism or social dynamics, how tired I was, or my mood, my opinion about it shifted. I can completely see why it would be funny for people, and I found it funny too when I was reading it in a more lighthearted state. But I also sometimes couldn't ignore the misogyny of it all, so I sometimes found it harder to enjoy. That said, I think it is a well-written piece of satire that makes good use of euphemism and absurdity to illustrate comedy, so I wasn't dwelling on the unsavoury tones of the book for too long.

I suppose Captain Pantaleon Pantoja's role in the book could be summarised by the phrase "one thing led to another" because the poor guy didn't even want the responsibility of bringing together such a task force. He mentioned it being against his principles, but one thing led to another and lo and behold he ends up cheating on his wife. I suppose this snowball effect is just a trope that Vargas Llosa employed for the sake of plot progression, and it worked!

The whole concept of employing a bunch of prostitutes to satisfy the soldiers' sexual needs is kinda wild - not that it hasn't been done before in real life, because of course it has - but the regimented nature of the operation is what makes the novel a comedy rather than a tragedy. Anyway, I enjoyed the contrast between the "professional" behaviour and language used around what is typically crude humour. I also liked how the prostitutes were referred to as specialists rather than more demeaning language. However, wish all the dimensions of "visitadora" could be translated over into the English term because I think that nuance in the term is just brilliant.

I won't go too deep into the writing style of it all, but the multiple perspectives and the raw, unfiltered narration was one of my favourite aspects of this novel that made it feel like I was reading a diary or listening to a friend vent. 

My question for you all; how much do you think Pantaleon Pantoja was actually influenced by the aphrodisiacal Amazon? Was he just letting his inner self show?

Comments

  1. Daniel OrizagaMarch 13, 2023 at 11:57 PM

    "I enjoyed the contrast between the "professional" behavior and language used around what is typically crude humour." One of the ways of creating comic effects is precisely this mechanism, of making contrasts so crazy that they are surprising, and from that surprise comes a comic effect. However, I agree with you. Misogyny is not something to be laughed at.

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  2. AlizeyMarch 15, 2023 at 10:37 AM

    Hi Deeba! Great blog post, you definitely brought up some interesting thoughts. Let me start off by saying I found it really cool how your perception of the book shifted, depending on your mood. I feel like whenever that happens to me when reading is because the book has left an "imprint" on me, in some way. Anyways, to answer your question, my answer is I don't know. I'm trying really hard to come up with an answer, but I really don't know. In a way Pantoja could have been influenced by his environment and his role in the service, but on the other hand if he could give up his principles so quickly, did he ever really care of them?? For me, it feels like there isn't just one answer.

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