Set in 1950s Peru, the major theme of Mario Vargas Llosa’s The Challenge is the Latin American concept of Machismo (being seen as a man among men). When a powerful street thug challenges a man from a rival group to a knife fight, the other accepts. He and his friends put on a brave face, even though they know he has little chance. The thug offers clemency as he begins to dominate the fight but the other refuses, preferring to die rather than admit defeat. Other themes include lawlessness, violence, rivalry, loyalty, honor.
A sad aspect of the story is that the thug (the Gimp) pleaded with the other man’s followers, who included his father, to tell him give up the fight. They refuse, seemingly believing that a brave but meaningless death is better than the shame of living with defeat.
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