1. The Roots of Tango in Argentine Literature

Since its origins, tango has been closely linked to the social, political and cultural dynamics of Argentina. In its early days, tango represented the life of the working classes, reflecting the harshness of life in the poor neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. This urban experience has found an echo in Argentine literature, where tango is often used as a symbol of resistance, identity and social struggle.

a. Tango as an Expression of Nostalgia and Alienation

One of the main themes that runs through both tango and the literature related to it is nostalgia. The "saudade" of tango, which speaks of lost loves, times gone by and unfulfilled desires, is reflected in numerous literary texts. In the stories and novels of Argentine authors of the twentieth century, tango is often present as a soundtrack to the narrative or as a metaphor to express the melancholy of urban and modern life.

Authors such as Enrique Santos Discépolo, a famous lyricist and playwright, contributed to the creation of an image of tango as a universal language of sadness. Discépolo, author of the famous tango "Cambalache", used tango as a means to describe the hypocrisy and chaos of modern society, deeply influencing both the music and literature of the time.

b. Jorge Luis Borges and il Tango

One of the authors who has most integrated tango into his work is Jorge Luis Borges. For Borges, tango was not only a musical form, but a symbol of the mythical Buenos Aires that he loved so much. In several poems and stories, Borges refers to tango as a cultural phenomenon that represents the soul of the city and its inhabitants.
In particular, Borges saw tango as a form of heroism, a dance and music that evoked the courage, defiance and virility of the compadritos, the young delinquents of the suburbs of Buenos Aires. In his famous essay "El Tango" (1950), Borges explores the origins of tango and its historical, cultural and poetic significance. He describes tango as an expression of tragic destiny, full of strength and mystery, that has its roots in the city's slums. For Borges, tango was not only an art form, but a vision of the world.
In poems such as "El Tango" or "Fundación Mítica de Buenos Aires", Borges pays homage to tango as one of the fundamental forces of the mythical creation of the city itself. Here, tango is no longer just a dance music, but a poetic language that describes the destiny of a people.

2. Tango in Fiction

In addition to poetry, tango has found its place in Argentine narrative, especially in short stories and novels. Manuel Puig, author of the famous novel "El beso de la mujer araña", has included tango as an integral part of the lives of his characters. In the novel, references to tango serve to create a nostalgic and sentimental atmosphere, but also to express the emotional complexity of the protagonists, especially their desire for freedom in a context of political repression.

a. Ricardo Güiraldes and Tango as a Representation of National Identity

Another author who explored tango in fiction is Ricardo Güiraldes, author of "Don Segundo Sombra" (1926). Although the novel is primarily an ode to gaucho life in the Argentine pampas, it also represents a moment of transition in Argentine culture, in which urban and rural identities confront each other. Tango, as an urban phenomenon, is cited as a symbol of this new Argentina that is emerging in the cities. Tango thus becomes a means to explore national identity in a time of rapid social change.

3. Tango and poetry: the letters of tangi

One cannot talk about tango in literature without mentioning the importance of letras, the poetic lyrics of tango songs. Many of the most famous tango songs are true poems, in which the use of lunfardo (the popular slang of Buenos Aires) is combined with a melancholic and sophisticated lyricism. The words of tango songs have often been analyzed for their poetic beauty and their ability to tell complex stories in a few verses.

a. Horacio Ferrer: Il Poeta del Tango

An essential name in the history of tango lyrics is that of Horacio Ferrer, a Uruguayan poet and lyricist who collaborated with Astor Piazzolla to create some of the most iconic tangos in modern history. Ferrer transformed tango lyrics into true poetic works, with an emotional depth and stylistic complexity that make them true masterpieces.

One of the most famous examples of the collaboration between Ferrer and Piazzolla is the tango "Balada para un loco". In this song, Ferrer plays with words in a masterly way, creating a surreal narrative full of poetic images that evoke a world of madness and passion, in which tango becomes the symbol of freedom and rebellion against social conventions.

b. The Words of Tango: Love, Perdition and Nostalgia

The main themes of tango lyrics are love, loss, nostalgia and tragic fate. In the songs of authors such as Enrique Santos Discépolo, Homero Manzi, Cátulo Castillo, and many others, tango becomes a form of expression of the urban soul, reflecting the experiences of men and women who live on the margins of society.

In the famous tango "La Cumparsita", for example, the text describes the emotional devastation of a man who has lost everything in life, from love to dignity, and now wanders like a lost soul. This theme of the loser is a constant in tango lyrics, where the protagonists always face a fate of loneliness and abandonment.

4. Tango and Critical Essays: The Analysis of the Cultural Phenomenon

Tango is not only material for fiction and poetry; it has also inspired a wide range of critical essays and academic studies that analyze its historical and cultural evolution. Beatriz Sarlo, one of Argentina's most important cultural critics, has written extensively on the importance of tango in the formation of Argentine identity.
In his book "Tango: Discursos y prácticas", Sarlo explores how tango has functioned as a cultural discourse that reflects changes in Argentine society, especially with regard to gender and class dynamics. Tango, according to Sarlo, has embodied the conflicts and tensions between modernity and tradition, the city and the countryside, the male and the female.

a. Tango as a Transnational Phenomenon

In addition to local critics, tango has attracted the attention of international scholars who have explored the phenomenon of tango as a transnational art form. Robert Farris Thompson’s book “Tango: The Art History of Love” explores the African roots of tango and its evolution as a global phenomenon, highlighting how tango dance and music have been influenced by a variety of cultures and traditions. Thompson analyzes tango as a universal language of love and struggle, capable of speaking to people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.

5. Conclusion: Tango as a Literary Text

Tango is not simply a dance or a music; it is an art form that has profoundly influenced Argentine and world literature. Through the poetry of the letras, critical analyses and narrative representations, tango has become a powerful symbol of the human condition. With its mix of passion, sadness, love and rebellion, tango continues to inspire writers and poets, who use it as a tool to explore the complexities of modern life.
Ultimately, tango is an open text, a language that lends itself to multiple literary and artistic interpretations, and its influence in literature will continue to be felt for generations to come.