Sense of Ideological conflict in Maria Vargas Llosa’s Who Killed Palomino Molero?

Abstract

This thesis attempts to analyze Maria Vargas Llosa’s Who Killed Palomino Molero? from the theoretical perspective of Neo-Marxist formulations of William / Althusser ideological and repressive interpellation of an individual. Palomino Molero, Silva, Lituma become the prime victims of capitalist ideology in the text. The novel has the story of the 1950’s Peruvian society which was highly influenced and controlled by military regime. The use of state apparatus is rampant so Molero is brutally murdered for violating the norm of corrupted capitalist ideology. Likely, the army officers Silva and Lituma also face lots of obstacles and hindrances while investigating the murder case of low ranked and working class Molero. On the nineteenth day of their investigation they find out the murderer as ruling class army officers Colonel Mindreau and Lieutenant Dufo. The ruling class and high ranked officers are guided by the capitalist ideology and their actions are made to save their ideological honor which turns to be self-destructive. For instance, Mindreau towards the end of the novel commits suicide to preserve his status quo in the society. The marginalized characters dare to challenge and resist against the norms of capitalist ideology for their dignity. The role of the author in this novel is to represent the proletariats and to give strong voice to the voiceless who are always treated as the secondary beings in Peruvian society.