RODOLFO USIGLI: BIOGRAPHY, STYLE AND WORKS - LITERATURE - 2025

Rodolfo Usigli (1905-1979) was a Mexican writer, playwright, poet, and diplomat. His work was focused on the development of modern and avant-garde theater. He is considered one of the pioneers in the innovation of the performing arts in his country.

Usigli's theatrical production was characterized by showing the social reality of his native land. The writer, from the different public positions that he held, was in charge of spreading culture, as well as promoting the different plays that were presented in his time.

Rodolfo Usigli (left), receiving recognition for his 50 years of work. li Source: CDMX Government, via Wikimedia Commons

Some of the best known plays by Rodolfo Usigli were: The gesticulator, The family has dinner at home and Corona de fuego. On the other hand, although his narrative production was not extensive at all, with Archibaldo de la Cruz's La vida criminal, he managed to revolutionize Hispanic literature.

Biography

Birth and family

Rodolfo was born on November 17, 1905 in Mexico City. The poet came from a family of middle-class European immigrants. His parents were Pablo Usigli, Italian, and Carlota Wainer, Austro-Hungarian. Usigli had three siblings: Ana, Aida and Alberto; their father passed away when they were just children.

Usigli Studies

Rodolfo Usigli was educated in institutions in Mexico City. He always expressed his attraction to the arts and literature, so, for a time, he studied at the National Conservatory of Music. There he stayed until, finally, he decided on the theater and went to study it at Yale University.

National Conservatory of Music of Mexico, one of Usigli's study places. Source: AB, via Wikimedia Commons

Back to mexico

After completing higher education at Yale, United States, Usigli returned to Mexico, loaded with new and refreshing ideas. As soon as he set foot on Aztec soil, he dedicated himself to the creation of the Midnight Theater. He was also related to the intellectuals of Los Contemporáneos, but he was not part of the group.

The work of recognition

In the 1930s, Usigli developed several plays, such as The Apostle, the Boy and the Fog and The Gesticulator. However, it was with the premiere of the third piece, in 1937, that it gained recognition. This was due to the theme that he addressed in relation to politics and the despotism of those in power.

Social reality theater

Rodolfo Usigli based his theatrical production on content of social interest. His works were a kind of criticism, with satirical and ironic elements of the political and social circumstances of his native Mexico. Thanks to the art he created, it was possible to awaken awareness and identity among the citizens who followed his work.

Coat of arms of Yale University, Usigli's place of study. Source: Yale University, via Wikimedia Commons

Dramaturgy

Usigli's persistent interest in the theater led him to develop a treatise on dramaturgy. In 1940 he published his play Itinerary of the dramatic author; In it he laid the foundations to follow to write about the performing arts.

With the publication of Itinerary of the playwright, Usigli became the first Latin American author to indicate a path towards the creation of plays, and all that they entail.

Affinity with

The Mexican writer was not an active member of the group of young intellectuals Los Contemporáneos. However, he had an affinity both with his activities, as with many of his members. And although his poetry was not abundant, it was similar to that of the poets who made it up.

In Usigli's little poetic work there was much quality, skill and creativity. His poetry had a personal character; It was in search of what generated interest, such as old age. But it was in the theater where he established his professionalism, and his international recognition was thanks to his staging.

Diplomatic usigli

Rodolfo Usigli was a man linked to politics and to the foreign service of Mexico, getting to carry out some diplomatic tasks. At the beginning of the 1940s, he served in Paris as delegate for Cultural Affairs of the Mexican Embassy.

Later, in the mid-1950s, he left his country for more than six years, between 1956 and 1963, to serve as ambassador to Lebanon. Then, from 1963 to 1970, he was the representative of Mexico in Norway. All this he did without abandoning his literary and theatrical work.

Last years and death

After having carried out his various diplomatic missions, Rodolfo Usigli returned to Mexico in the early 1970s. At that time he developed what would be his last theatrical piece, which he named El Encuentro. The writer died on June 18, 1979, in Mexico City, when he was 73 years old.

Awards and honours

- America Award in 1970.

- National Prize of Sciences and Arts in 1972.

Style

Usigli's literary style, in terms of theater, was characterized by the exposition of themes related to the Mexican historical context. At the same time, he brought social and political issues to the table. His theater was about reality, with criticism, irony and the precision of language, key elements.

As for his poetry, he reflected his ability to lyrical through a precise, creative and, at times, sensitive expression, aligned with certain personal desires. His prose, as brief as his poetry, was real, raw, sinister and twisted, as can be seen in La vida criminal de Archibaldo de la Cruz.

Plays

Theater

Other publications

References

1. Rodolfo Usigli. (2018). Spain: Wikipedia. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org.
2. Tamaro, E. (2004-2019). Rodolfo Usigli. (N / a): Biographies and Lives. Recovered from: biografiasyvidas.com.
3. Crown of light. (S. f.). Mexico: Encyclopedia of Literature in Mexico. Recovered from: elem.mx.
4. Shadow crown. (S. f.). Mexico: Encyclopedia of Literature in Mexico. Recovered from: elem.mx.
5. Álvarez, D. and Martínez, D. (2018). Rodolfo Usigli. Mexico: Encyclopedia of Literature in Mexico. Recovered from: elem.mx.