This dissertation studies the representation of contemporary societies, and the conflict and the power relations among its members in four short novels published in the 1990's. My dissertation concentrates on the works Ines (1995), Busca mi esquela y Primer amor (1996) and Un traje rojo para un duelo (1996), by Elena Garro. Through her novels, Garro formulates her own understanding of socio-cultural reality and subverts the patriarchal discourse to demonstrate the impossibility of social change. These short novels also challenge the literary generic boundaries including elements from other genres in order to strengthen their social criticism message.

In chapters, 3, 4 and 5, I analyzed each text regarding the literary genre to which their belong and the representation of the society, the characters, the space and the time that frame the oeuvre and the power relations that shape the life and future of the characters.

In the second chapter, I present the development of new critical models that address the study of texts written by Latin-American writers in their own context, and set up the analytical framework of the study. This study follows an eclectic model, taking concepts from Latin American literary critics such as Debra Castillo as well as from philosophers like Michael Foucault and Julia Kristeva, among others.

In the Introductory chapter, I briefly review the progress on the study of Mexican women's oeuvres. I also situate the literary production of Garro in the context of her life as well as on the historical and literary development of Mexican literature.

The last chapter compares the findings of the previous chapters. The analysis of these texts reveals that for this characters it is impossible to hope for social change because there aren't possible avenues to escape social oppression and because powerful characters, men and women alike, insure the practice of patriarchal discourse to their own advantage. The reading of these texts also demonstrates that exists a plurality of experiences in societies depending on the country or place of origin, societal class, and the gender of the characters.