This dissertation focuses on a comparative analysis of Juan de Castellanos' Elegías and Alonso de Ercilla's La Araucana , narrative epic poems dealing with the Spanish conquest of the "New World". Despite many similarities regarding their respective representations of Amerindians, in reference to the conquest, the providentialist perspective of the Elegías projects the ultimate triumph of the imperial enterprise, while Ercilla's Araucana foreshadows its decadence and demise, despite its exaltation of imperial aspirations. Both texts justify the war of conquest while denouncing its unfairness. Ercilla reflects upon the juridical theory of the just war and questions the Spaniards' cruelty and greed in the war of Arauco. Castellanos' text shows a contradictory structure, exposing the denunciation of violence and cruel treatment while justifying the same as the only way to accomplish the conquest.

Both authors expressed tensions between their support for the Spanish imperialism, and their sympathy for the reality of the Amerindians who suffered the consequences of the conquest in an extreme way. Ercilla's and Castellanos' representations of the Amerindians, project characteristics and qualities of the Greek and Roman warriors of ancient times, as they use Homer's techniques to describe battles. Spanish and Amerindian values are compared as well as their common humanity. In the end, both Ercilla and Castellanos attempt to represent the Other stressing not only their differences but also their common humanity in a manner that reminds one of Bartolomé de Las Casas.