Social Criticism

Social criticism is often embedded in or clearly on the surface of Latin American theater. I, Too, Speak of the Rose does this by making a commentary on the social conditions of the times (1965) as well as questioning the solutions to the problems.

Although the play commences with a Medium, who throughout the play presents a broader, otherworldly point of view, it is soon clear that the play focuses on the lives of the disadvantaged. Tona and Polo are representative children in Mexico City who are clearly lacking in parental supervision and in financial resources. When Tona asks Polo why he isn't in school that day, he responds that it is because of his lack of shoes. He will have to go to school barefoot and stand in line when the teacher inspects each student to check if his shoes are polished. He says, "I'll be damned...