The Vortex
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ScribdTranslationsThe Vortex
"The Vortex" is a novel written by Colombian author José Eustasio Rivera. It was
published in 1924 and is considered Rivera's masterpiece and a classic of literature
Colombian and Latin American. The novel is a work of public denunciation about violence and
exploitation that occurred in the Amazon jungle as a consequence of the rubber boom
between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th.
Arturo Cova is a man of the city, a daring person who loves adventure. Somewhere
moment decides to move from Bogotá to the plains, accompanied by Alicia, a daughter of a family
wealthy and socially respected. She falls in love with him and flees to avoid marrying a
old landowner, very rich and chosen by a relative. His relationship with the poet becomes more
intense, although he is a poor womanizer, yet yes, cultured and admirable. The fiancé
frustrated sentences the poet to prison, and he, along with Alice, decides to escape to Casanare with the
help from some friends. Over time they arrive in the jungle and settle in Franco's house and
Griselda, the couple of Llaneros who welcomes them. At some point, Barrera appears, a
a delinquent who usually deceives workers. He falls in love with Griselda and Alicia, until
they are kidnapped, these events provoke a dramatic action. As a result,
Both Arturo Cova and his friend Franco set off in pursuit through the jungle.
tropical, in a hostile and certainly dangerous terrain, among rubber plantations and
constant threats. Soon they find themselves in a kind of earthly hell: plantations
of rubber. Here they know the elder Clemente Silva, who has been searching for a long time.
bones of her son in the jungle. Silva becomes a salvation for them. He guides them to
that they can continue chasing the kidnapper. They eventually find their wives. The
bandit Barrera is finally caught and there is a dramatic confrontation between both
bands in which the kidnapper finally dies. This allows the rubber growers to
they benefit, and Arturo and Alicia can return to the city to continue sharing their
romantic relationship.
In my opinion, it was the reading difficult due to many regionalisms, but the plot me
seemed quite interesting. In the novel, the author presents the themes of love, honor, and the
violence in the jungle environment, a very dangerous place to survive. The story is
filled with jealousy, dissatisfaction, and betrayal. This work is important in literature
Latin American because the characters refer to the social and economic types of the
era.