Writing the Body and Visualizing Silence in “Sombra entre sombras” by Inés Arredondo

Abstract

“Shadow in the Shadows” is perhaps the most shocking story of Inés Arredondo. On the one hand, the violence experienced in marriage by the protagonist is very vivid, and on the other hand, she surrenders to a carnival sexuality. The story makes visible that patriarchal structure of marriage legitimizes violence. However, the protagonist acquires agency when she becomes the owner of her speech. She narrates her horrid experience of being forced to marry to a mature and pervert man when she was a teenager. Her experience is determined by the position of sexual difference. The veiled writing means that the story is enunciated from that position, while body-writing spreads out to represent sensations and affections that define the protagonist experience. Both concepts derive from Hélène Cixous’ theory, which states that writing allows the articulation of silenced experiences that thus acquire a subjective function.