Etelvina Carbo Plaza (Daule, Ecuador, March 18, 1834 – Lima, Peru, March 22, 1902) was an Ecuadorian poet known for her contributions to Romantic poetry. Raised in an intellectual environment, she began writing poetry as a teenager, focusing on themes of love, patriotism, and devotion to God. Her work reflected personal and political struggles, particularly influenced by her family’s exile due to political upheaval. Some of her notable poems include Las Flores de mi Jardín and La Partida. Despite not gaining widespread recognition during her lifetime, she posthumously became a significant figure in Ecuadorian literature, with schools and literary societies established in her name. Her poetry remains a testament to 19th-century Ecuadorian Romanticism.
Early Life and Education
Etelvina Carbo Plaza, born Josefina Etelvina Carbo Plaza on March 18, 1834, in Daule, Ecuador, was the eldest of seven children. Her father, Manuel José Carbo Noboa, held significant political roles in Ecuador. He served as a City Councilor in Guayaquil from 1838 to 1839 and later, in 1851, became Governor of Guayas, appointed by his uncle, President Diego Noboa Arteta. However, his political career was disrupted by a revolution led by General José María Urbina, which forced him into exile in Lima, Peru. The Carbo family, including Etelvina, experienced several relocations during this period, as they occasionally reunited with other exiled relatives.
Despite the political turmoil, Etelvina received a strong education at home, where she demonstrated remarkable intellectual and literary talents from a young age. She began writing poetry at the age of fifteen, showing early signs of the creativity and depth that would later define her work.
Literary Career
Etelvina Carbo Plaza began writing poetry during her teenage years. Her poems often expressed a romantic worldview, focusing on themes of love, patriotism, and devotion to God and family. She was deeply influenced by her upbringing and the political climate around her, particularly the exile of her family. Her early works reflect her frustration with societal expectations, especially those imposed on women of her time.
Her poetry portrayed deep personal reflections and spiritual musings. One of her notable later works, “Las Flores de mi Jardín,” was written in 1887 in memory of her recently deceased father, illustrating her capacity for emotional depth and connection with personal loss.
Despite her romantic inclinations, Etelvina did not fully embrace the literary movements of Parnassianism or Modernism that emerged toward the end of the century. She remained faithful to her romantic style until her death. Her contemporaries admired her for her sensitivity and poetic abilities, even though her work did not reflect the literary evolution of her time.
Personal Life
Etelvina’s life was marked by family tragedies and political upheavals. Her father’s exile cast a shadow over her, and from the age of seventeen, she adopted a more somber demeanor. Her writings from this period reflected her deep connection to religious faith and patriotic sentiment. Despite not pursuing higher education, Etelvina had a broad understanding of political and economic matters, often advising her widowed father in managing the household and their affairs.
Etelvina never married, and throughout her life, she remained closely connected to her family. Her poetry often reflected the solitude she experienced and her commitment to both religion and Ecuadorian patriotism. In addition to her literary contributions, Etelvina was known for her charitable work, particularly her dedication to the Catholic Church. She was instrumental in funding and constructing the altar of Saint Anthony in the San Francisco Church of Guayaquil, which was tragically lost in the great fire of 1896.
Later Years and Death
Following the destruction of her family home in the 1896 fire, Etelvina relocated to Lima, Peru, where she spent her final years. Despite her relatively isolated existence in her later years, she continued writing poetry. Her work never shifted towards the newer literary movements, remaining firmly rooted in 19th-century Romanticism.
Etelvina Carbo Plaza passed away on March 22, 1902, at the age of 68, due to a cerebral embolism. At the time of her death, she was considered one of the last remaining poets of Ecuador’s Romantic tradition.
Legacy
Though her style did not evolve with the changing literary landscape, Etelvina Carbo Plaza is remembered as a significant figure in Ecuadorian Romanticism. Her works, while not as widely circulated during her lifetime, gained recognition posthumously. She was included in anthologies, such as Presencia de la mujer ecuatoriana en la poesía (1960), which highlighted her contributions alongside other prominent Ecuadorian women poets.
In 2016, the Sociedad Literaria Etelvina Carbo Plaza was founded by writer Cecilia Corella Ramírez in Daule, Ecuador. This organization, affiliated with the World Academy of Literature, History, Art, and Culture (Mexico), works to preserve Etelvina’s legacy. In 2020, the society organized the first Etelvina Carbo Plaza National Poetry Contest, which continues to honor her memory and promote Ecuadorian poetry.
In 2019, Charles J. García Plúas, a historian and professor from Daule, published a biography of Etelvina titled Biografía de la poetisa Etelvina Carbo Plaza, further contributing to a renewed interest in her life and works. Additionally, an elementary school in Daule, the Escuela de Educación Básica Etelvina Carbo Plaza, is named after her, honoring her contributions to Ecuadorian culture and providing education to hundreds of students in the community.
Etelvina Carbo Plaza is also remembered as one of the notable historical figures from Daule, alongside personalities such as Dr. Vicente Piedrahita Carbo and General Cornelio Vernaza. Her poetry continues to inspire new generations of writers, and her unique position as a woman poet in 19th-century Ecuador has earned her a permanent place in the country’s literary history.
Recognitions and Accolades
Though Etelvina did not receive widespread recognition during her lifetime, her posthumous influence has solidified her place in Ecuadorian literature. Her contributions to Romantic poetry and her charitable efforts have made her a revered figure in her hometown of Daule and beyond. The national poetry contest organized by the Sociedad Literaria Etelvina Carbo Plaza is a testament to her enduring legacy.
In conclusion, Etelvina Carbo Plaza’s life and work exemplify the complex intersection of personal hardship, artistic talent, and societal expectations faced by women in the 19th century. Despite these challenges, she left behind a body of work that remains a valuable part of Ecuador’s literary heritage.
Poem
La partida
Ya el corazón presiente la partida
Penosa asaz y larga;
¡Ay! la partida, que á la par que abruma,
Reanima y halaga!
Que en este suelo de amargura y llanto
Se pena cuando se ama,
Y el dolor y el placer están unidos
En perpetua lazada.
Se ama el placer, porque la vida amamos
Y el placer nos embriaga;
Se ama el dolor, porque sin él no hay vida,
No hay existencia humana.
Todo en ella es pesar y desventura,
El placer nos engaña,
Pasa fugaz cual ráfaga, y nos deja
De la ilusión la nada.
Los recuerdos de goces pasajeros
Nos seducen y encantan;
Pero hasta ellos, ficticios, ¡ay! terminan
Por afligir el alma!
Y despertando al vicio las pasiones
¡Cómo locas se exaltan!
¡Y cómo todo afecto de ternura,
Crueles, arrebatan!
Gocemos solo los placeres puros
Que ni agitan ni dañan,
Esos placeres que no teme nunca
Ni la virtud más casta.
Y contemplemos que dolor, placeres,
Desaliento, esperanzas,
Se adunan siempre, y que, adunados viven
Cual dueños en nuestra alma.
Así mi corazón al separarse,
Al dar su adiós al Guayas,
Siente tristeza y gozo á un tiempo mismo
Y llora, rie y canta.
References
- Rodolfo Pérez Pimentel, “CARBO PLAZA, ETELVINA.” Retrieved on October 6, 2024. Click to view
- Academia Ecuatoriana de la Lengua, “La Partida – Etelvina Carbo.” Retrieved on October 6, 2024. Click to view
- Infoescuelas, “Escuela de Educación Básica Etelvina Carbo Plaza.” Retrieved on October 6, 2024. Click to view
- Charles J. García Plúas, “Biografía de CHARLES J. GARCÍA PLÚAS.” Retrieved on October 6, 2024. Click to view
- Club Ensayos, “La historia de cantón Daule.” Retrieved on October 6, 2024.
Click to view - Universidad de Guayaquil, “Presencia de la mujer ecuatoriana en la poesía.” Retrieved on October 6, 2024. Click to view