The little school by Alcia Partnoy preface by Julia Alvarez - Essay Example

"The little school" by Alicia Partnoy Argentina passed through military dictatorship during 1976 to 1979. During this period, dissidents and political opponents had been subjected to severe torture and imprisonments without any trial. ‘Little School’ was a secret detention center which was set up by secret agencies of military regime for teaching a lesson to opponents. It is a story of torture and humiliation meted out at author, Alicia Partnoy, who was caught by secret agency in 1977 and kept in The Little School for her dissident ideology. She met with her other ‘hole-fellows’, although guards of the detention center used to keep vigilant eye to restrict the interaction of detainees. It is an incoherent story of imprisoned soul, who was lucky enough to secure her release astonishingly. The history reveals that most of the literature created during imprisonment attains the status of ‘master piece’ and ‘The Little School’ is one of them. Moreover, literary figures with their creative abilities give tough time to dictators even during their brutal regimes and leave everlasting images on history and literature. Deep observation and strong memory is considered an asset of any person. Alicia Partnoy proves in The Little School that she is not short of these qualities. From the first story of the novel, her kidnapping from the house, to the last story, she elaborated each and every detail of the event in artistic manners. She successfully points out the brutal aspects of the Dirty War. By utilizing her power of deep observation, she notices each and every incident during the course of her imprisonment; keeps them in her mind while using astonishing skill of memory and elaborated before readers after her release. “The guard’s shift was organized in three groups of four guards each”1, the sentence shows her deep observation and memory. By giving a surprise to her admirers, she tells exact numbers of security guards in The Little School at different timelines of a day. By drawing a sketch of a security guard she writes, “Approximately 22 to 23 years old, 6 ft., 154 lbs., straight hairs, brown eyes, white complexion, regular features”2. Moreover, her elaboration about the physical appearance and personality tilt of ten to fifteen security guards is marvelous. She draws a perfect sketch of a guard, having grandeur body, strong arms, spot face and merciless eyes. During the reading of The Little School, readers feel themselves in the concentration camp; walking around different rooms; and seeing what Alicia Partnoy wants to be seen by readers. The readers know the number of cots in different rooms by using the blindfold eyes of the author. The episode of her arrest leaves everlasting impression on the mind of the reader and unveils the highhandedness, unleash of terror and brutal tactics of military regime of Argentina3. She feels the knock of terror at the door of her home; forced entry of the agents of the devil into the house; her fragile resistance and finally she throw away into an unidentified vehicle and dispatched to an underground torture cell to punish her for the expression of dissident views. The incident was not happened in the Middle Ages; rather it was the end of seventies; man had landed on the moon; the United Nations had granted the right of freedom of expression to global citizens; but in Argentina……….Alas!!!!!!! The mentioned incident has two aspects to ponder i.e. the plight of human rights and women in Argentina. Forced entry into the house of anyone and one’s detention without legal formalities is the violation of human rights guaranteed by the civilized and democratic governments to its citizens. Dictatorial regimes all over the world have poor index with reference to the human rights as overthrown of democratic government is itself a violation of the basic rights of the human being. Moreover, it is a humanistic norm to deal woman in different ways irrespective of allegations leveled against them. Feminist movements all over the world secured many privileges for women but the dictators of Argentina paid no heed towards them and instead focused on ways and means to strong their hold on the country. Modern research reveals that body (physical one) and soul (abstract one) have inverse relationship between them. Physical enthusiasm can hinder the free flight of abstract powers like imagination, concentration, observation and thinking process of mind. During the period of her captivity at The Little School, Alicia Partnoy’s body was enchained, she was barred to talk with the fellow prisoners but her abstract powers get momentum and no dictator of the world can control the skill of free imagination and cognitive process of human minds. Due to this reason, prisons are considered the nurseries of scholars and intellectuals. The same proved true in the case of The Little School. Alicia Partnoy mentions many objects in her story which has significant meanings and importance in The Little School. Blindfolds, jail inmates, guards, weapons, cots, humiliated faces, terrified eyes, floor and roof of the cell are among them. Blindfold has symbolic characteristics and they failed to perform their functions. The author shows humanity towards captives of the cell but astonishingly the same sentiments were shown towards captors also. Discussing the children captives, he writes, “Among them were over 400 children who were either kidnapped with their parents or –like Graciela’s baby—born in captivity”4. Sentiments of humanity towards captives of the cell are quite understandable because their detention is illegal and unethical. But surprisingly, the author expresses same sentiments for the captors also. This is the peak of humanistic approach as the author of the novel considers captors as ignorant and devoid of the consequences of their actions. Alicia perceives them innocent and understands the limitations of their cognitive abilities. They were the mere tools in the hands of real culprits. The history of the world cannot be comprehended without studying the literature. Literary figures have deep observation and analytical skills to respond the excesses of the unlawful rulers in unique manners. The Little School is a master piece of Alicia Partnoy which depicts terrorized Argentina in artistic and creative manners. It is story of resistance against the enemies of the democracy. Dictators of Argentina have been perished but The Little School will never be demolished. Work Cited Partnoy, Alicia. The Little School: Tales of Disappearance & Survival. San Francisco, Calif: Cleis Press, 1998. Print. Read More