La tuberculosis en la literatura argentina: tres ejemplos a través de la novela el cuento y la poesía

Abstract

En este artículo propongo analizar las visiones de tres autores sobre la tuberculosis en la primera mitad del siglo XX y que en cierta medida reflejan la visión social sobre la enfermedad. Los tres tuvieron contacto con la dolencia de alguna manera pero estuvieron separados en el tiempo, por su posición social y por el género de literatura que desarrollaron. A pesar de estas diferencias se pueden apreciar ejes comunes y visiones similares lo que demuestra una percepción similar de la enfermedad en toda la sociedad.

El Sanatori en La Novel·lística Contemporània: El Mar, De Blai Bonet

“…But this was not always the case. Infection by these mycobacteria has accompanied humankind for thousands of years and until only a very few decades ago, still greatly impacted individuals and communities (Daniel, 2006). The perception of disease, both from societies and their literary reflections, has changed over time and across cultures, depending on the knowledge available about its causes and the therapies to be applied.…”

“…In this case, the reason for confinement is not a deviation from the social norm -as would be the case with prison or with a mental hospital. Individuals are confined in sanatoriums to separate and even hide tuberculosis patients, as described by Carbonetti (2000):…”

“…The same thing occurred with people with tuberculous because the rest of society considered them a source of infection and, to some extent, dehumanised them. Thus, «tuberculosis was seen and perceived by society and the patient as the death row, not only for physical death, but also for social death» (Carbonetti, 2000). ■ ■ 'THE SEA', BY BLAI BONET Blai Bonet, who had first-hand knowledge of the environment in these institutions, started writing the novel at the Caubet anti-tuberculosis sanatorium in Majorca (Spain).…”