Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Studies Essay:
He also brings out the theme of manipulation of humankind, which is observed in the
course of the narrative. Tobar also puts forth the argument that manipulation of masses
carried out by the guerrillas result in individuals leading a destructive life in future
(Tobar 14). This argument is supported through the development of the protagonist
Longoria, as will be observed in the analysis.
ANALYSIS
Brief Analysis of the Novel
The story of the Tattooed Soldier begins as a love story and incorporates painful and
passionate narrative of the lives of two protagonists, Guillermo Longoria and Antonio
Bernal (Tobar 15). In this novel, the author, Hector Tobar tries to bring out different
themes as concerns the story of these two but the main theme that he uses and brings
to light is that of manipulation. Manipulation can be defined as that behavior used by an
individuals to get what they want without paying attention to other individuals’ feelings
while getting it (Tobar 25). It can also be defined as utilizing and understanding any
means necessary in acquiring what one wants or desires to have (Ibid 26). The Tattooed
Soldier is a novel having the theme of emotional manipulation, whereby one of the
protagonists, Longoria, experiences it as part of his recruitment in the guerrilla army.
Emotional manipulation is also witnessed with Antonio, who being a Guatemalan citizen,
lives in fear of his life from the guerrilla army personnel. The guerrillas had mastered the
art of manipulation by making the people live in pure terror; they exhibited this through
bombings, kidnapping the rich and killing suspected informers (Tobar 47). Because of
this fear and manipulation by the government, Antonio was forced to flee from his
native land upon discovering that him and his family had been suspected of being
informers and were being hunted down.
Another side to the theme that is portrayed in the novel is that of unemployment.
During this particular setting, Los Angeles was apparently divided into two classes, that
is, the high class and the low class (Tobar 141). Those of the high class status would find
employment with ease and lead comfortable lives while those of the lower class status
would bounce from one menial job to the next, as was in the case of Antonio (Ibid 143).
After fleeing to Los Angeles, Antonio became schizophrenic, homeless and lived
amongst junkies who used to steal food for him. On the other hand, when Longoria
came to Los Angeles, life for him was apparently easier as compared to Antonio’s. This
can be attributed to the fact that he was one of the members of the elite units within the
Guatemalan army, therefore enabling him to have special privileges (Tobar 157). This
fact angers Antonio who makes the observation that Longoria is able to move freely
within the United States without much obstruction.
In the course of the investigation, another trial took place involving a Korean American
who was to be sentenced because of shooting dead a young African-American woman
(Tobar 174). The individual was handed a lenient sentence and this further increased
racial tensions in the city of Los Angeles. In 1992, the year when the narrative involving
Antonio and Longoria is set, the four officers involved in the Rodney case were cleared
of any accusation of assault (Ibid 185). This was the cause of the riots during that
particular time. Antonio, being a naïve, average class citizen of Guatemala was taken
advantage of by the government and forced to flee his native land. Once in Los Angeles,
he became a victim of racial discrimination in that he could not easily find employment
or a decent place to stay due to his ethnic background (Tobar 231). This factor was
further fueled by the happenings in Los Angeles as a result of the Rodney King trial.
Circumstances surrounding the events prompt and manipulate Antonio into desiring to
take revenge and readers observe the change in his characteristic – from that of being a
naïve, peace loving individual to that of being a rage driven individual full of vengeance
(Tobar 253). Revenge becomes the sole reason and purpose for his quest to continue
living and surviving. As part of the few elements introduced to support the author’s
arguments as concerns the themes, the readers are introduced to another character,
Frank, who happens to be a homeless African-American (Ibid 259). Frank befriends
Antonio who also finds himself in the state of being homeless in the streets of Los
Angeles. Together, they move from one camp to the next, and after spotting Longoria in
one of the camps, Antonio requests Frank to help him get his revenge (Tobar 260). At
the beginning, Frank is hesitant as to assisting him in his quest but on mentioning that
Longoria can be compared to Nazi, only a modern day version of one, he does not think
twice. Frank is also in a position to relate with current happenings during that period
since he also happens to be of a minority group, living in a city where there exists racial
tension and manipulation (Ibid 263).
Moreover, the setting of the narrative is of two distinct yet similar scenarios, which are
intertwined by the protagonists, Antonio and Longoria. Guatemala and Los Angeles are
both depicted as being peaceful to begin with but ending up in chaos as a result of civil
war and racial tension caused by the Rodney King trail, respectively (Tobar 256). Being
citizens of Guatemala but hailing from different backgrounds, Antonio and Longoria find
themselves in the city of Los Angeles in an attempt to escape from their painful
memories. Here, they are brought together under different circumstances into the same
plot of the narrative and the reader observes how each of the protagonists reacts to
their present situation (Tobar 254). This new environment does not change the
characteristic of either of them and they do their best to adapt to their surroundings.
Both Antonio and Longoria are seen to migrate from one camp to the next but the
difference is that Longoria is able to enjoy certain privileges bestowed upon him due to
the nature of his rank (Ibid 265). On the other hand, Antonio is left to fend for himself
and try surviving whichever way he can since he does not enjoy the same privileges.
The Los Angeles riots provoke the protagonists to become more emotional and are
reminded of their past memories. For instance, once the riots begin, Antonio finds an
inner resolve as a result of being swept up in the emotion, pushing him to seek justice
by proceeding to kill Longoria (Tobar 270). Longoria also finds himself in an emotional
turmoil after being confronted by Guatemalan refugees who recognized him for who he
is and demanded answers to his actions while living in Guatemala. The general setting of
the story is in the years 1991 and 1992 when Guatemalan civil war and the Los Angeles
riots took place (Ibid 272). The story is also set in two distinct cities, Los Angeles, being a
large urban area and Guatemala, being a middle class, small area. These two cities
however, share a similar scenario in that they are both set during harsh economic times
(Tobar 275). This has an overall impact on the protagonists who find themselves caught
up in the occurrences of that particular period. Even though they do not change their
identity despite the environments they find themselves in, their attitudes and emotional
status are greatly influenced by the surrounding circumstances (Tobar 276).
The design or plot of the narrative in The Tattooed Soldier follows a pattern that enables
the reader to understand the humanity of war. The narrative begins with a love story of
Antonio and Elena, proceeds with her and her son’s brutal execution by the guerrillas,
one of whom is Longoria and ends with a street murder at the height of Rodney King
riots in Los Angeles (Tobar 279). The author of The Tattooed Soldier leaves the readers
greatly uncentered in that he depicts Antonio and Longoria as victims facing the same
challenging situation in Los Angeles. This in turn leads the readers to setting aside their
perceived hatred towards Longoria and instead makes them empathize with both
protagonists (Ibid 283).
CONCLUSION
Hector Tobar writes the novel The Tattooed Soldier with the aim of looking at issues
facing the society as a whole for instance issues related to class structure and ethnicity.
Victimized individuals in Guatemala as well as homeless immigrants living in Los Angeles
are brought to light and this enables the readers to put aside their differences and
hatred for a moment and instead focus on experiencing mutual humanity.
WORK CITED
Tobar, Hector. The Tattooed Soldier. Delphinium Books. University of Texas. 1998. p. 25
– 307.
For citation:
http://www.delphiniumbooks.com/book/the-
tattooed-soldier/