Patriotism seems to be a confused and confusing business in Costaguana. Main characters such as Charles, Antonia, and Martin are native to Costaguana and claim to feel like "Costaguaneros"… however, these same characters are of European extraction and seem to dig Europe/its customs quite a bit.
Characters like Martin and Charles kind of avoid displays of patriotism. Martin even denies being patriotic at all, saying his commitment to protecting the nation is all about his love for Antonia. In short, the presentation of patriotism is a bit muddled—it's never quite clear whether Nostromo: A Tale of The Seaboard is presenting it as a good thing or a bad thing, or just an irrational or inconsistent feeling that people have trouble justifying.
Questions About Patriotism
- What do you think—does the novel present patriotism positively or negatively? Provide examples.
- Martin repeatedly denies being a patriot, claiming that everything he does in the service of his country is for Antonia. Do you believe him? Why or why not?
- What do you think of Don José's version of patriotism, which involves complimenting a vicious dictator because he, too, loved Costaguana. Is that portrayed as admirable or ridiculous? Or neither?
Chew on This
Patriotism is portrayed as an entirely useless sentiment that only gets the characters into trouble by causing them to act irrationally. It's basically love with a voter registration card.
The novel's portrayal of patriotism is muddled because the whole concept has gotten complicated in a Costaguana that's been in the throes of European and now American imperialism.