A Psychosocial Approach to Maternal Agency in Selections of Gabriela Mistral's Prose and Poetry.

Human well-being is a major focus in Gabriela Mistral's articulations of a constellation of universal themes. In her treatment of motherhood, for instance, Mistral suggests that maternal agency has far-reaching impact on the welfare of individuals, society, and humanity at large. Drawing on Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory of human development, the researchers use the notions of somatic, ego, and societal processes as a theoretical framework to illuminate the way Mistral imaginatively intertwines maternal agency and education. Mistral's work embodies complex dynamic interactions to convey human beings' physical, psychological, and social growth. Maternal involvement in somatic processes goes beyond biological aspects of human development. Mothers also have a crucial influence on their children's self-esteem, social wellness, and worldview. Analysis is based on segments from Maria Giachetti's English translation of a collection of Mistral's prose and poems. It is hoped that the discussion brings to light the universal appeal and ongoing creative presence of Mistral's work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]