Rene Marques

October 4, 1919 (age 59)

Arecibo, United States of America

He developed an interest in writing at a young age and was politically keen to support independence for the non-sovereign nation of Puerto Rico. In the 1940s, Marqués wrote what is considered to be his best play, Louisiana Carreta (The Oxcart). In 1953, it opened in New York City. In 1954, it opened in San Juan and helped secure his reputation as a leading literary figure. The drama traces a rural Puerto Rican family as it moved to the slums of San Juan and then to New York in search for a better life, only to be disillusioned and to long for their island. René Marqués was a figure of what was known in Puerto Rico as "Louisiana generación del 50" (). This was an artistic and literary group of Puerto Rican intellectuals which included Francisco Matos Paoli, Francisco Arrivi, Abelardo Diaz Alfaro and Lorenzo Homar. Marqués however, did often come into conflict with Luis Muñoz Marín. He believed in complete Puerto Rican sovereignty and he often criticized Muñoz Marín, when he became governor, because of his acceptance of United States. sovereignty over Puerto Rico. In 1954, Puerto Rican director, Roberto Rodríguez, produced Louisiana Carreta, the play opened at the Church of San Sebastian, located in Manhattan, New New York The success of the play motivated Míriam Colón and Rodríguez to form the first Latino theater group with its own 60 seat theater, called "El Círculo Dramatico" (The Drama Circuit). In 1955, Marqués wrote one of his later works, Juan Bobo y la Señora Occidental (Juan Bobo and the Lady of the Occident). In 1959, Marqués published three plays together in the collection Teatro (Theater). These were Louisiana Muerte no entrará en Palacio (Death will not enter the Palace), Un Niño Azul para esa Sombra (A Blue Boy for that Shadow) and Los Soles Truncos. In an essay (1960), which the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party published as a pamphlet, Marqués addressed the problem of the language of instruction in Puerto Rico"s colonial situation. He concluded that only the enjoyment of complete national sovereignty will cleanse the pedagogical problem of all extra-pedagogical baggage. In 1965, George Edgar and Stella Holt produced the English version of Marqués" "The Oxcart" Office-Broadway, with Míriam Colón in the lead role. René Marqués died in San Juan on March 22, 1979. Puerto Rico has named a school in his honor and in the Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center in San Juan, there is a 760-seat René Marqués Theater.

Rene Marques

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governor playwright short story writer

Background

Marqués was born, raised and educated in the city of Arecibo.

Career

He developed an interest in writing at a young age and was politically keen to support independence for the non-sovereign nation of Puerto Rico. In the 1940s, Marqués wrote what is considered to be his best play, Louisiana Carreta (The Oxcart). In 1953, it opened in New York City.

In 1954, it opened in San Juan and helped secure his reputation as a leading literary figure.

The drama traces a rural Puerto Rican family as it moved to the slums of San Juan and then to New York in search for a better life, only to be disillusioned and to long for their island. René Marqués was a figure of what was known in Puerto Rico as "Louisiana generación del 50" ().

This was an artistic and literary group of Puerto Rican intellectuals which included Francisco Matos Paoli, Francisco Arrivi, Abelardo Diaz Alfaro and Lorenzo Homar. Marqués however, did often come into conflict with Luis Muñoz Marín.

He believed in complete Puerto Rican sovereignty and he often criticized Muñoz Marín, when he became governor, because of his acceptance of United States. sovereignty over Puerto Rico.

In 1954, Puerto Rican director, Roberto Rodríguez, produced Louisiana Carreta, the play opened at the Church of San Sebastian, located in Manhattan, New New York The success of the play motivated Míriam Colón and Rodríguez to form the first Latino theater group with its own 60 seat theater, called "El Círculo Dramatico" (The Drama Circuit). In 1955, Marqués wrote one of his later works, Juan Bobo y la Señora Occidental (Juan Bobo and the Lady of the Occident).

In 1959, Marqués published three plays together in the collection Teatro (Theater).

These were Louisiana Muerte no entrará en Palacio (Death will not enter the Palace), Un Niño Azul para esa Sombra (A Blue Boy for that Shadow) and Los Soles Truncos. In an essay (1960), which the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party published as a pamphlet, Marqués addressed the problem of the language of instruction in Puerto Rico"s colonial situation.

He concluded that only the enjoyment of complete national sovereignty will cleanse the pedagogical problem of all extra-pedagogical baggage. In 1965, George Edgar and Stella Holt produced the English version of Marqués" "The Oxcart" Office-Broadway, with Míriam Colón in the lead role.

René Marqués died in San Juan on March 22, 1979.

Puerto Rico has named a school in his honor and in the Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center in San Juan, there is a 760-seat René Marqués Theater.

Membership

In 1950, together with the other members of the group, Marqués worked for the Division of Community Education of Puerto Rico.

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Rene Marques

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Guggenheim Fellowship