City and Simulacrum: Satirical Devices in the Critique of Social Appearances in the Poems of Gregório de Matos and Juan del Valle y Caviedes

Abstract

This article proposes a comparative analysis of the satirical works of Juan del Valle y Caviedes and Gregório de Matos, two of the main colonial American poets, who developed their works in Lima (Peru) and Bahia (Brazil) during the 17th century. The study focuses on the critique of social appearances about the city, hierarchies, and monarchical institutions. The main hypothesis of this study is that both authors use satire as a mechanism to dismantle false social representations that use the city as a Baroque stage for imposture. Through a comparative analysis, rhetorical devices are identified that question social performativities within colonial
societies. The results show that, despite geographic differences, Valle y Caviedes and Gregório de Matos share a similar approach to criticizing false appearances, which allows for a joint reflection on the colonial literatures of Peru and Brazil.