To Cuba and Back · Chapter
XX explained
The narrator attends a bullfight in Havana, describing the cruelty and ineptitude of the spectacle, the suffering of the animals, and the crowd's barbaric excitement.
What happens
The narrator attends a bullfight in Havana, describing the cruelty and ineptitude of the spectacle, the suffering of the animals, and the crowd's barbaric excitement. He contrasts the behavior of the spectators with the lack of courage for political liberty, and later shares an omnibus with four New Englanders who condemn the event as both cruel and fraudulent.
Themes in this chapter
Colonial Oppression and Despotism
The bullfight serves as a metaphor for the cruelty and impotence of colonial society, where spectators cheer violence but fail to act for liberty.
Religion and Moral Hypocrisy
The narrator contrasts the crowd's enthusiasm for bloodsport with their neglect of 'judgment and justice,' highlighting moral hypocrisy.
Travel as a Lens for Social Critique
The narrator uses the bullfight as an opportunity to observe and criticize Cuban society, comparing it unfavorably to Northern values.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The narrator attends the bullfight, observes the cruelty and crowd behavior, and reflects on the moral and political implications.
- Spaniards
Described as 'meagre, hungry, sallow, sweaty mean-looking degenerates' who rake the arena and cover up blood between bullfights.
- Cubans
Part of the crowd at the bullfight; the narrator criticizes their passive acceptance of cruelty and oppression.
- The Master
Implied in the narrator's critique of those who 'work your slaves' as part of the broader social commentary.
Key passages
“Thankful I am, and creditable it is, that there are no women.”
The narrator is relieved that no women are present at the bullfight, implying that the spectacle is too degrading for them.
Reflects 19th-century gender norms and the narrator's moral judgment.
“None but cowards would be so cruel.”
Only cowards are capable of such cruelty.
A New Englander's moral condemnation of the bullfight, linking cruelty to cowardice.
“Work your slaves, torture your bulls, fight your gamecocks, crown your dancers and singers—and leave the weightier matters of judgment and justice... to the care of others.”
The narrator accuses Cubans of focusing on trivial entertainments and cruelty while neglecting their own political freedom and moral duties.
Central critique of colonial society's misplaced priorities.