How does Vargas Llosa employ narrative techniques and structural innovations to enhance the storytelling? Discuss specific instances where the novel's form deepens its thematic impact.

How does Vargas Llosa use historical events and Euclides da Cunha’s existing literary account as a backdrop? In what ways does this background contribute to the overall meaning and impact of the narrative?

Analyze the characters in the novel, considering their evolution and symbolic significance. How do characters embody larger themes, and how does Vargas Llosa use them to comment on societal and political issues?