All evil. The "aesthetics of annihlation" in the narrative of Robert Bolano

Authors

  • Alexis Candia Cáceres Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Abstract

This article proposes the study of the manifestations of evil in Roberto Bolaño's novels, allof which have in common the presence of annihilation, that is, that force which leads to the destruction of human beings. For this purpose, the author analyzes all the novels published by Roberto Bolaño, from Consejos de un discípulo de Morrison a un fanático de Joyce (1984) to 2666 (2004). In his novels Bolaño creates an "Aesthetics of annihilation" which registers the many forms of devastation of women and men; this procedure allows the transformation of a significant portion of his novels in a "tour" of that violence and horror which have shaken Western culture during the last century.

Keywords:

Roberto Bolaño, novels, evil, “Aesthetics of annihilation”