| This dissertation proposes to examine the Juan Bobo character and the stories as they have evolved in Puerto Rican folklore. In doing so, I trace Juan Bobo's evolution as a metaphor for changes in Puerto Rican society and self-perception.; The paper covers an overview of Juan Bobo, his origins in Spain, and his introduction into Puerto Rican society. In addition, I examine the Juan Bobo stories that originated in oral culture primarily focusing on the research of J. Alden Mason and Maria Cadilla de Martinez. A social commentary on the stories in the late twentieth century and the changing role of Juan Bobo in Puerto Rican society is also provided. This overview of Juan Bobo shows how he evolved in Puerto Rico and in the United States.; The significance of my dissertation is that it examines the question of Puerto Rican identity from a previously unexplored vantage point. It illuminates the relationship between popular culture and national identity amidst social change. |
