Better (worse) is meneallo: Benedetti and Cervantes

This study examines the intertextuality between Mario Benedetti's collection of short stories, Mejor es meneallo (published between 1956 and 1961), and Miguel de Cervantes' novel, Don Quixote de la Mancha. The title of the Uruguayan author's collection of short stories is an explicit...

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Autor principal: Condado Toja, Carolina
Formato: Artículo revista
Lenguaje:Español
Publicado: Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Humanidades. Instituto de Letras "Alfredo Veiravé" 2026
Materias:
Intertextuality
Cervantes
Benedetti
Quijote
intertextualidad
Acceso en línea:https://revistas.unne.edu.ar/index.php/clt/article/view/9339
Aporte de:
Revistas UNNE - Universidad Nacional del Noroeste (UNNE) de Universidad Nacional del Nordeste
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spelling I48-R154-article-93392026-06-04T15:59:23Z Better (worse) is meneallo: Benedetti and Cervantes Mejor (peor) es meneallo: Benedetti y Cervantes Condado Toja, Carolina Intertextuality Cervantes Benedetti Quijote intertextualidad Cervantes Benedetti Quijote This study examines the intertextuality between Mario Benedetti's collection of short stories, Mejor es meneallo (published between 1956 and 1961), and Miguel de Cervantes' novel, Don Quixote de la Mancha. The title of the Uruguayan author's collection of short stories is an explicit allusion to Don Quixote's famous statement, ‘Peor es meneallo’ (‘It is worse to shake it’), uttered in the famous episode of the fulling mills (Chapter XX, Part I), which links it to the initial paratext presented in Benedetti's work. The variation between ‘worse’ and “better” reveals the central thematic contrast: while the nobleman from La Mancha seeks to forget baseness and physiological shame, Benedetti posits the need to ‘shake things up’ and confront the miseries of everyday life in Uruguay. The analysis focuses on the function of humour and parodic degradation as connecting threads. Eight humans ‘miseries’ identified and developed in Benedetti’s stories (including the passage of time, workplace alienation, violence, and lack of passion), and their thematic parallels with episodes and characters from Don Quixote are traced. The text demonstrates how both works, through their resources, expose with scathing lucidity the harsh reality of their respective eras, vindicating the more material and human dimension of being in the face of sublime ideals. El presente estudio examina la intertextualidad entre la colección de cuentos de Mario Benedetti, Mejor es meneallo (publicada entre 1956 y 1961), y la novela de Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quijote de la Mancha. El título de la recopilación de cuentos del autor uruguayo constituye una alusión explícita al enunciado quijotesco “Peor es meneallo”, pronunciado por don Quijote en el célebre episodio de los batanes (Capítulo XX, Parte I) que lo vincula a través del paratexto inicial presentado en la obra de Benedetti. La variación entre “peor” y “mejor” revela el contraste temático central: mientras el hidalgo manchego busca el olvido de la bajeza y la vergüenza fisiológica, Benedetti postula la necesidad de “menear” y confrontar las miserias de la vida cotidiana uruguaya. El análisis se centra en la función del humor y la degradación paródica como ejes conectores. Se identifican y desarrollan ocho “miserias” humanas en los cuentos de Benedetti (incluyendo el paso del tiempo, la alienación laboral, la violencia y la falta de pasión), y se trazan sus paralelismos temáticos con episodios y personajes del Quijote. El texto muestra cómo ambas obras, a través de recursos, exponen con la realidad de sus respectivas épocas la dimensión más material y humana del ser frente a los ideales sublimes. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Humanidades. Instituto de Letras "Alfredo Veiravé" 2026-06-01 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Artículo revisado por pares text/html https://revistas.unne.edu.ar/index.php/clt/article/view/9339 10.30972/clt.299339 Cuadernos de Literatura; No. 29 (2026): Mayo Cuadernos de Literatura; Núm. 29 (2026): Mayo Cuadernos de Literatura; n. 29 (2026): Mayo 2684-0499 0326-5102 spa https://revistas.unne.edu.ar/index.php/clt/article/view/9339/9268
institution Universidad Nacional del Nordeste
institution_str I-48
repository_str R-154
container_title_str Revistas UNNE - Universidad Nacional del Noroeste (UNNE)
language Español
format Artículo revista
topic Intertextuality
Cervantes
Benedetti
Quijote
intertextualidad
Cervantes
Benedetti
Quijote
spellingShingle Intertextuality
Cervantes
Benedetti
Quijote
intertextualidad
Cervantes
Benedetti
Quijote
Condado Toja, Carolina
Better (worse) is meneallo: Benedetti and Cervantes
topic_facet Intertextuality
Cervantes
Benedetti
Quijote
intertextualidad
Cervantes
Benedetti
Quijote
author Condado Toja, Carolina
author_facet Condado Toja, Carolina
author_sort Condado Toja, Carolina
title Better (worse) is meneallo: Benedetti and Cervantes
title_short Better (worse) is meneallo: Benedetti and Cervantes
title_full Better (worse) is meneallo: Benedetti and Cervantes
title_fullStr Better (worse) is meneallo: Benedetti and Cervantes
title_full_unstemmed Better (worse) is meneallo: Benedetti and Cervantes
title_sort better (worse) is meneallo: benedetti and cervantes
description This study examines the intertextuality between Mario Benedetti's collection of short stories, Mejor es meneallo (published between 1956 and 1961), and Miguel de Cervantes' novel, Don Quixote de la Mancha. The title of the Uruguayan author's collection of short stories is an explicit allusion to Don Quixote's famous statement, ‘Peor es meneallo’ (‘It is worse to shake it’), uttered in the famous episode of the fulling mills (Chapter XX, Part I), which links it to the initial paratext presented in Benedetti's work. The variation between ‘worse’ and “better” reveals the central thematic contrast: while the nobleman from La Mancha seeks to forget baseness and physiological shame, Benedetti posits the need to ‘shake things up’ and confront the miseries of everyday life in Uruguay. The analysis focuses on the function of humour and parodic degradation as connecting threads. Eight humans ‘miseries’ identified and developed in Benedetti’s stories (including the passage of time, workplace alienation, violence, and lack of passion), and their thematic parallels with episodes and characters from Don Quixote are traced. The text demonstrates how both works, through their resources, expose with scathing lucidity the harsh reality of their respective eras, vindicating the more material and human dimension of being in the face of sublime ideals.
publisher Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Humanidades. Instituto de Letras "Alfredo Veiravé"
publishDate 2026
url https://revistas.unne.edu.ar/index.php/clt/article/view/9339
work_keys_str_mv AT condadotojacarolina betterworseismeneallobenedettiandcervantes
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first_indexed 2026-06-17T05:01:08Z
last_indexed 2026-06-17T05:01:08Z
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