Departure and Return
Abstract
In one of the celebrations of his fiftieth birthday, Neruda stated that the poet has two duties: “to leave and to return.” He later named one of his books Navigations and Returns . His life was that of a traveler who always returned, in real life and imaginatively, to his starting point: the southern territory of his childhood. This chapter examines the reasons for the journey and return in the life and work of Neruda, as well as other themes associated with his travels, such as the antipodes. He also alludes to the use of travel as a metaphor in some of his texts.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Cultural and Social Studies in Latin America
Latin American Literature Analysis
Travel Writing and Literature
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Cambridge University Press eBooks
- Pages
- 75–84
- Publication date
- 27 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter