Resistance in the Little School
The Dirty Wars of Argentina consisted of innocent people being captive on causes of rebellious acts towards the government. In fear of the spread of Marxist ideas, the United States of America were an influential part in trying to create a democracy in Latin America. Unfortunately, in the making of a democracy, military dictatorships began their reign over Latin America. In the book, The Little School: Tales of Disappearance & Survival, Alicia Partnoy gives you a first-hand experience of what it was like being a captive to the government. Resistance within these prisons may have seemed like a futile thing to do, but Alicia shows us how it was done numerous times. Ways of humanity in the Little School, were shown in subliminal, minimal, and outright resistance to the inhumane ways of captivity. This is demonstrated by the use of nicknames, allowing the captives to brush their teeth, challenging the guards in a game of arm wrestle, the introduction of a puppy for the prisoners to…show more content… The guard and Partnoy converse, “I bet I can arm wrestle with you and win… The guard approaches my bed again, and, luckily, starts boasting: “You thought you were going to win!”(45). The scene takes place after a captive is being beaten by one of the guards, and Partnoy goes out her way to get the guards attention on her instead. This display of retaliation against the guard’s inhumane acts is an example of Partnoy knowing the true reason, yet the guard does not. A scene like this portrays the Partnoy as being aware of her retaliation against the guard’s action. Her display of helping a fellow prisoner eventually leads the guard to think it is all a game, and in the end keeps his mind of the real task at hand. The act of retaliation displays her want for a humane way of living despite her present
