For this week’s reading, I was thrilled when I started reading and realised that it is a novel written by a Mexican. It is based on the Mexican Revolution, a very familiar topic. It was nice to find out that it was the first novel of its type to be translated into English, which is part of the appeal for its inclusion in the syllabus.
Moreover, getting into the story. By reading the title, you can get an idea of what the novel is about. It more or less retails the story about a group of “underdogs” or “misfits” that, for their particular reasons, are fighting in the Mexican Revolution alongside the rebels. We get to experience why the main characters in the book are where they are at the moment. There is Demetrio, who, because of a misunderstanding, is now looking for revenge; there is Cervantez, a deserter, La Pintada and Camila, who is kind of in love with Demetrio. They all have different backgrounds, personalities, and abilities, fighting for the exact cause.
I found it interesting how. This book suggests that many people fighting with the rebels and partaking in the revolution do not know why they do it. Several times throughout the text, many things about the process are questioned, such as: Who is leading it? Why are they doing it? Why does the conflict persist?
I found that particularly interesting because even at the most superficial level of understanding of the Mexican Revolution, you can tell that it was about the injustice of the dictatorship that had ruled over Mexico for over 30 years, and you can tell that there is. Right and wrong side. But this text questions that, which is a point I had not seen done before.
Another part of the end of the cycle is how we, as readers, are taken back to Demetrios’ home, where he wishes to see his family again. And in the same place where it all started, he is outnumbered and assassinated. All with this prior sense, he didn’t exactly know why the fighting was going on or what was even the cause they were fighting for.
I had never heard about this novel before this class, but I am glad I picked it over the other one as it connected me with a part of my heritage.
My question for you this week is. Have you heard about the Mexican Revolution (Aside from its existence) before? If yes, what had you heard about it?
Jon
January 22, 2023 — 2:48 am
“the first novel of its type to be translated into English”
Not just that… as I point out in my lecture, it was the first novel of the Revolution to the *written*…
“Right and wrong side. But this text questions that”
How does it question that, do you think?
(Meanwhile, do use the category “Azuela,” thanks!)
Julia Moniz-Lecce
January 22, 2023 — 9:00 am
Hi Montserrat,
I also hadn’t heard about this novel before the class, so it was interesting to read. To answer your question, I have heard about the Mexican Revolution, but I never really got to study it until coming to UBC. Before studying it here, I really only new about Porfirio Diaz and how the rural communities in Mexico wanted to fight for labour rights. It’s really easy to get sucked into reading about the Mexican Revolution because it’s so complicated and nuanced. Cool post and looking forward to discussing this further in class!
Curtis
January 22, 2023 — 7:04 pm
Hi Montse,
Thanks for your thoughts here. I really appreciated your comments on how the questions “Who is leading?” or “What is truly being fought for?” are raised throughout the entirety of the book. Especially during Solis’s monologue at the end of Part I, the end goal of the revolution is stressed – to build a better future compared to the current tyranny. If one is not constantly focusing on the better future to be created, one may run the risk of creating an even more heinous society… Food for thought.
To your question, while not directly addressing the Mexican Revolution, during my time in Jon’s SPAN 322, a major project of mine was revitalizing the Wikipedia page for the Mexican outlaw and folk hero Gregorio Cortez. To me, he epitomizes the revolutionary spirit, as he stood up to local law enforcement when in an unjust altercation and then was on the lam for the vast majority of his life. He always defied unjust, often racially charged situations and eventually took up arms for the Huerist forces during the Mexican Revolution. His legacy has been captured in the incredible book “Con Su Pistola en La Mano” (With His Pistol in His Hand) by Americo Paredes, or the fantastic song “El Corrido de Gregorio Cortez” (The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez). Check out the Wikipedia page at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorio_Cortez#CITEREFParedes2016 Thanks to Jon for the great course, and constant revisions to our website!
Take care,
Curtis HR
chia chi ou-chin
January 23, 2023 — 12:58 am
Hello Monserrat! I really enjoyed hearing about this book from your perspective especially as you are understanding of the different narratives that existed for the Mexican revolution. Personally, I have heard the basics of the Mexican Revolution, but it was told in a series of chronological events, such as one leader succeeded the other because of X, Y, Z, and I guess the other participants of the revolutions had their stories largely unheard, much like the characters in the book, which is why it was such a refreshing perspective.
julia gomez-coronado dominguez
January 23, 2023 — 6:44 pm
Hello Montse! I loved your thoughts on the book. I also enjoyed it very much although I hadn’t read it before taking this course. However, I had heard a bit about it in high school as an example of a novel from the time of the Mexican Revolution, although I didn’t know much about it until now. I knew basic, general information about the revolution, for instance, that it lasted almost a decade and that it was triggered by the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz. However, this novel helped me better understand the historical context, the political and revolutionary thoughts behind it, and a general image of the atmosphere at the time.
rebeca ponce
January 23, 2023 — 11:36 pm
Montse, I also had never heard about this novel before last week! It was such a good experience to somehow reconnect to my country for the instances while I read this book. I have to share the same interest about the detail of Demetrio being assassinated in a place he was so nostalgic about and that was such an important part of his life.