A ONTO-POLÍTICA DA HOSPITALIDADE EM EL HUÉSPED, DE GUADALUPE NETTEL

Abstract

This essay explores the onto-politics of hospitality in Guadalupe Nettel’s novel El huésped, analyzing how the narrative interrogates regimes of corporeality, perception, and relationships with the more-than-human. It proposes a model of radical coexistence that emphasizes consciously inhabiting shared landscapes. Through the relationship between the protagonist, Ana, and “La Cosa”—a parasitic entity inhabiting her body—the novel delves into the interdependence and fragility of the human form, suggesting the potential for symbiotic bonds with the other. The essay further examines a multisensory perception, exemplified by the blind characters at the institute, and situates the novel
within feminist new materialisms and multispecies studies, presenting “La Cosa” as a more-than-human entity. This framework allows for a critical reflection on contemporary multispecies coexistence and the emergence of new sensorialities born from proximity and cooperation with other beings. Additionally, Nettel's work addresses the tension between confinement and freedom, emphasizing that autonomy is relational and constructed through collaborative assemblages. El huésped invites readers to reconsider their perceptions, encouraging an openness to cohabitation and transforming ecological blindness into an opportunity for learning and continuity.