Ernesto Sabato’s multiple selves: exploring Abaddón el exterminador

Abstract

This article examines the novel Abaddón el exterminador (1974), by Ernesto Sabato (1911-2011), exploring the intricate relationship between the author and his literary creations. Through a qualitative methodological approach, which combines textual analysis and historical-literary contextualization, the study highlights Sabato's multifaceted narrative, in which autobiography, fiction and essay are intertwined, reflecting on the human condition amid advances in science and technology. The characters, particularly those who mirror Sabato himself, are important to this investigation, as they serve as channels for exploring metaphysical and existential questions. Furthermore, in their construction they highlight the permeability between literary genres and challenge the traditional demarcations between essay and fiction. A key work to understand this dynamic is the book of essays El Escritor y sus fantasmas (1963), as it provides valuable perspectives on his conception of literature and the creative process. Thus, this article explores how Abaddón el exterminador transcends the narrative of a writer in search of meaning in a fractured world, offering an in-depth analysis of literature's potential to question and broaden our understanding of reality.