Image of “Small Town” in M. Puig’s Novels

Abstract

The article analyses three novels by Manuel Puig “Betrayed by Rita Hayworth”, “Heartbreak Tango” and “Blood of Requited Love”, which are united by the image of «a provincial small town». The place of this image in political and social criticism and artistic means used by the writer to reveal the problems of patriarchal society are  under analysis. It is concluded that the author creates a collective image of «a provincial small town» as an example of conservative society that imposes certain social roles and thus ruins lives. Key words: M. Puig, patriarchy, dichotomy, image of «a provincial small town»