Índole

Published in Lima in 1891, Clorinda Matto de Turner's Índole (Peruvian Novel) offers a compelling portrait of the fictional Andean village of "Rosalina," a microcosm where Spanish-descended landowners, mestizos, and Indigenous populations coexist. With the keen eye of a seasoned journalist and chronicler of customs, Matto de Turner meticulously details her characters' behaviors, speech patterns, attire, and social interactions, reflecting her belief that the novel should be a "photograph that stereotypes the vices and virtues of a people."

This novel, written after the devastating War of the Pacific (1879-1883), but set amidst the civil unrest of 1858, explores the state of the Peruvian nation, focusing on the elements that unify it and those that hinder its moral reform. A central theme is anticlericalism, with Matto de Turner bravely presenting a corrupt priest, Don Pedro de Miranda (or his successor, Don Pascual Vargas), whose immoral conduct is enabled by local authorities. This bold critique ignited significant controversy during a period of intense debate about the Catholic Church's power and role in Peruvian national life.

Unlike her earlier work, Aves sin nido, where the community is largely dysfunctional, Índole portrays a more stable village where most inhabitants share mutual affection. However, underlying moral weaknesses, hypocrisy, and an overemphasis on appearances among the "notables" (like Antonio and Eulalia López, and Valentín and Asunción) threaten the social fabric. These characters, despite their "buena índole" (good inclination), struggle to embody the virtues required for national progress, often succumbing to self-deception and opportunism.

Matto de Turner defines her mission as an "observing novelist" whose "sharp pen" penetrates life's mysteries and unveils the dense veil covering the eyes of the "blind and fanaticized inhabitants." Her work is a call for social reform and a meticulous "radiograph and dissection of an Andean town."

The title itself, Índole, reflects Matto de Turner's engagement with the positivist and scientific ideas of her era, exploring the interplay between innate character ("nature") and environmental influence ("nurture"). Through the nuanced portrayal of characters like the mestizo couple Ziska and Ildefonso (Foncito), who symbolize the healthy, adaptable, and moral "new citizens" for the nation under construction, Matto de Turner proposes a path toward a modernized Peru.