The Last Cuentista Literary Elements

Science Fiction, Dystopian Fiction, Coming-of-Age

The novel takes place in a future where Earth is on the brink of destruction due to a catastrophic comet impact.

The story is narrated in the first-person perspective, following the protagonist, Petra Peña. This allows readers to experience the journey and the internal struggles of the main character as she grapples with her identity, memory, and responsibility. The personal and emotional tone of Petra’s narration gives readers insight into her fears, hopes, and determination.

The tone of the novel is both somber and hopeful. There’s a constant sense of urgency and loss as Petra faces the aftermath of Earth’s destruction and the uncertainty of a new life. The mood shifts between moments of sorrow, especially when reflecting on her past, and moments of resilience as Petra holds on to the power of storytelling and hope for the future.

Petra Peña is the protagonist, a young girl with a deep connection to storytelling and her heritage. The antagonist is the totalitarian control imposed by the leadership of the spaceship, which seeks to erase history, culture, and individuality in order to ensure survival.

The central conflict in The Last Cuentista is Petra’s struggle to preserve the stories of Earth, particularly the folklore and traditions of her Mexican heritage, while the society aboard Cielito seeks to erase all memories of Earth. Petra must also fight to protect her family and her identity in a society that values conformity and submission to authority, rather than individuality and cultural richness.

The climax occurs when Petra, having preserved the last stories of Earth in her mind, confronts the authorities who have been trying to erase her memories and those of her people. In a final act of defiance, Petra uses her knowledge of stories to fight against the loss of her cultural identity and the dehumanizing forces that seek to control her.

Foreshadowing is evident throughout the novel in the references to the comet that will destroy Earth. These hints about Earth’s impending doom, as well as the discussions about memory and identity, set the stage for the larger thematic exploration of survival, remembrance, and the preservation of culture. Early hints about the society aboard Cielito also suggest that they may seek to control or erase Petra’s memories, which creates tension about how she will preserve her past.

An understated aspect of the novel is the profound importance of storytelling. While it seems like a simple act of cultural preservation or a childhood pastime for Petra, it’s revealed to be a crucial tool for survival and resistance against the erasure of humanity’s history. The understated nature of storytelling’s power makes its eventual role in the fight for identity all the more significant.

There are multiple allusions to Mexican folklore and mythology, particularly in the references to the stories Petra’s grandmother used to tell her. These allusions add layers of depth to the narrative, connecting the protagonist’s struggle with cultural preservation to broader themes of identity and the importance of storytelling in maintaining community and memory. Additionally, the novel alludes to real-life historical events where cultural erasure and oppression have occurred, drawing parallels to the dystopian society Petra faces.

Higuera uses vivid imagery to describe the new, bleak world aboard Cielito and the dying Earth that Petra must leave behind. The spaceship is described with clinical precision, symbolizing the cold, mechanized nature of the new society. In contrast, Earth and its cultural heritage are imbued with warmth, color, and life, reflecting Petra’s memories and her hope to keep those stories alive. The imagery of the stars and the distant planet also represents both the vast unknown and the hope for a new beginning.

The paradox in the novel lies in the contrast between survival and identity. While humanity is physically saved by escaping Earth, the cost of that survival is the potential loss of their identity, culture, and memories. The need to preserve life conflicts with the desire to preserve what it means to truly live, encapsulating the tension between physical existence and cultural vitality.

The relationship between Petra and her grandmother is paralleled with Petra’s own journey of resistance and preservation. Just as her grandmother taught her the power of stories, Petra must now use that same power to preserve her culture and memories, passing them on in the face of an oppressive system that seeks to suppress them.

The Cielito spaceship itself serves as a metonym for the oppressive new society that controls all aspects of life. It represents both the escape from Earth and the constraint of individuality, with the rigid structures of the ship symbolizing the loss of freedom and personal identity. Additionally, Petra’s memory of her grandmother’s stories acts as a synecdoche for the larger cultural narrative that is being threatened by the erasure of history and memory.

The comet that destroys Earth is personified as a harbinger of doom, but it also acts as a catalyst for the migration and new life aboard Cielito. The spaceship is likewise personified, with elements like the artificial intelligence system and the sterile environment reflecting a lifeless, controlling force that opposes the vibrancy and individuality of Earth’s culture and its stories.