Ensayos

work by Marqués

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

Ensayos is a collection of essays by Puerto Rican nationalist René Marqués. Published in 1966, with some selections appearing in El puertorriqueño dócil (1967), these essays explore the critical issue of national identity in Puerto Rico. Marqués examines how language, literature, and prevailing social conditions shape this identity. His work often advocates for the development of a strong sense of national consciousness, suggesting that the uncritical acceptance of foreign values leads to alienation.1

This collection is part of a broader tradition of Latin American essay writing that focuses on cultural distinctiveness. Marqués's essays contribute to the ongoing dialogue about what it means to be Puerto Rican in the face of external influences.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

René Marqués
A collection of his essays, Ensayos (1966; some included in El puertorriqueño dócil [1967; The Docile Puerto Rican]), is also concerned with the problem of national identity in relation to the language, literature, and prevailing social conditions of Puerto Rico.
Read More
A collection of his essays, Ensayos (1966; some included in El puertorriqueño dócil [1967; The Docile Puerto Rican]), is also concerned with the problem of national identity in relation to the language, literature, and prevailing social conditions of Puerto Rico.
Read More