Romanticism and Political Conflict in Echeverría's The Slaughterhouse

Romanticism and Freedom in Art

Romanticism is defined as "freedom of feeling in life and the feeling of freedom in art," representing a definitive break with the traditional attitudes that prevailed at that time.

The Analogy of the Bull and the Unitarian

Esteban Echeverría draws a powerful analogy between the bull and the young Unitarian, suggesting that both are processed by the same people in the same brutal manner. During the era of Rosas, Unitarians were treated like animals in a slaughterhouse. Echeverría highlights how both the young Unitarian and the bull serve as tools to demonstrate fidelity to the Restorer.

"At that time, the cutthroats of the slaughterhouse were the apostles who spread the federation with cockades and knives. It is not difficult to imagine that the federation emerged from their heads and blades. They called every man who was not a cutthroat, a butcher, a savage, or a thief—every decent man, every patriot, and every friend of the lights of freedom—a 'Unitarian' savage, according to the jargon invented by the Restorer, the master of the guild. The previous events clearly show that the focus of the federation was the slaughterhouse."

Historical Context: Post-Emancipation Argentina

The story focuses on the immediate aftermath of American emancipation, a period of chaos in Argentina. The situation highlights the polarization of the Argentine state into two factions:

• The Federalist Party: Led by Juan Manuel de Rosas, this group was backed by the political clout of Buenos Aires and rural communities. They supported a federal government based on the United States confederational model, aiming for laws and equal rights distributed across all regions.
• The Unitarians: Inspired by the Enlightenment, they preferred a European model. Unlike the Federalists, they sought a centralized government supported by the large elite.