Nicaraguan Literature Masterpiece: The Gueguense

Central American Comedy

The Gueguense comedy started after the Spanish conquistadors came to Nicaragua: it took place at a Masaya market about 400 years ago. The Gueguense, the main character in the play, was a traveling peddler or merchant that travelled throughout Central American and Mexico, selling smuggled merchandize. He lived with his son, step-son, and mules. When talking to the local Spanish authorities (Bailiff and Governor), his son, Don Forsico, always agreed with his father. On the contrary, his step-son, Don Ambrosio, always called Gueguense verbs, saying that he was fake, phony, deceitful, conceited, etc. So, the Gueguense called his step-son brat, bad seed, lazy boy.

The negotiation or dialog between the characters was full of live expressions, and the Gueguense attained social mobility at the end of the story. When the Spanish authorities asked for tax and the required permit, the Gueguense pretended not to hear, playing on words with similar sounds. He made fun of the Bailiff and Governor, getting them confused. At that time, the language used was some sort of Creole language or a combination an Indian dialect (Nahuatl) and Spanish. The short exchanges were followed by music, dance, and prance.

After trying over and over to please the Governor, the Gueguense was able to amuse the Royal Court and Governor was satisfied. But the Gueguense was not satisfied, and he began to ask for things, for instance, the marriage of his son with the daughter of the Governor. A deal is made eventually.

When choosing the potential bribe, there was a funny conversation about the lives of women that had already slept with Don Forsico, a womanizer. When the marriage was approved, Gueguense was asked to bring Spanish wine for a toast at the masquerade party.

This comedy still portrays characteristics of Mesoamerican societies. In spite of human defects, the Gueguense negotiated through puns, music, and gestures for the sake of equality. He had to learn the rhetoric of his time in order to resist intelligently the Spanish Crown.

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