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Octavio Paz

Octavio Paz. Labyrinth of Solitude Lecture One. The Back of the Book. Literature, History (Mexico) “The Labyrinth of Solitude is essential to an understanding of [Mexico] and, by extension, Latin America and the third world.”-- The Village Voice

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Octavio Paz

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  1. Octavio Paz Labyrinth of Solitude Lecture One

  2. The Back of the Book • Literature, History (Mexico) • “The Labyrinth of Solitude is essential to an understanding of [Mexico] and, by extension, Latin America and the third world.”-- The Village Voice • “The Labyrinth of Solitude,” a beautifully written and deeply felt discourse on Mexico’s quest for identity that gives us an unequaled look at the country hidden behind “the mask.” • “Written in a lucid, rich prose . . . “ Commonweal

  3. The Aztecs • Part of “Chichimec” intrusion into Toltec culture (from early 12th century) • Found Tenochtitlan in 1325 • Religion centered on Huitzilopochtli • Montezuma II, 9th Aztec king, (1502-1520)

  4. The Conquest • 1517 Coastal Spanish Expeditions begin • 1519 Cortes, Malinche, destroys ships, arrive in Tenochtitlan • May 1520, Massacre at Great Temple, Spanish confined to quarters • June 27 or 28, Montezuma dies • November 25, Cuitlahuac dies of smallpox; Cuauhtemoc becomes new Aztec ruler • May 30, 1521 Beginning Siege of Tenochtitlan • August 13, 1521 Capture of Cuauhtemoc

  5. Reasons for Spanish Success • Cortes’ ability to persuade and intimidate • Indians’ confusion about the Spanish • La Malinche • Disease • Spanish Weapons

  6. Colonial Period, 1701-1821 • Spanish war of succession (1701-1713), Bourbons replace Hapsburgs • 1784 Charles III creates 18 “intendancies” to improve economy • 1812 Constitutional Monarchy established • Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a parish priest in Dolores, led revolt beginning Sept. 16, 1810 • Treaty of Cordoba officially ends Mexican dependence on Spain, Aug. 24, 1821

  7. Mexico in the 19th Century • 1829 Spanish Invasion to retake the territory • 1824-35 Political Chaos, i.e. 16 Presidents in eleven years. • 1836 Texas Rebellion threatens loss of northeastern border region. • 1846-48 U.S. Invasion: Lose 50% of its territory to the U.S.A.. • 1856-63 War of Reform between Conservatives and Liberals. • 1863-67 French Invasion to impose an Austrian prince as Emperor. • 1876-1910 Under Don Porfirio Diaz Mexico had stability and peace that allowed it to developed at the expense of the poorest classes. (“Pax Porfiriano”)

  8. The Mexican Revolution • Feb. 14, 1911, Madero crosses border near Juarez • May 25 Diaz resigns; Zapata (et al) refuse to disband • Feb. 1913 Huerta overthrows Madero government • 1914 forces led by Zapata, Carranza, Pancho Villa (et al) unseat Huerta • More fighting among revolutionaries, Obregon defeats Villa by April 1915 • Constitution 1917 • Partido Revolucionario Institucional

  9. A Mexican History?

  10. A Mexican History? Aztec? Toltec? Chichimec?

  11. A Mexican History? Aztec? Toltec? Chichimec? Spanish? Cortes? Colonial?

  12. A Mexican History? Aztec? Toltec? Chichimec? And what about the “sexual” legacy of the conquest . . . Malinche? Spanish? Cortes? Colonial?

  13. A Mexican History? Aztec? Toltec? Chichimec? And what about the “sexual” legacy of the conquest . . . Malinche? Spanish? Cortes? Colonial? Consider the challenge of “national history” in the 20th century . . .

  14. A Mexican History? Aztec? Toltec? Chichimec? And what about the “sexual” legacy of the conquest . . . Malinche? Spanish? Cortes? Colonial? Consider the challenge of “national history” in the 20th century . . . And consider the problems of “ethnic” identity following WWII . . .

  15. Octavio Paz • March 31, 1914 Born in Mexico City • Father’s family is Mestizo • Mother’s family is Spanish • 1931 Begins publishing poetry • 1937 Attends 2nd International Congress of Anti-Fascist Writers (in Spain) • 1944 Goes to U.S. on Guggenheim Fellowship • 1945 Goes to Paris • 1950 Publishes El liberinto de la soledad • 1990 Wins Nobel Prize for Literature • April 19, 1998 Dies in Mexico City

  16. 1. The Pachuco and Other Extremes • On adolescence (pp. 9-11) • The Pachuco (pp. 13-17) • The bougainvillaea and bugambilia and bougainvillea (pp. 18-19) • Perfection vs. redemption (pp. 23-24)

  17. Mexican masks (p. 29, 32, 33) • “macho” (p. 31”) • Form imposed on the woman (p. 35, • Spanish Heritage (p. 36) • Pre-Columbian influence (p. 37) • cf. North America (p. 37) • respect (p. 38) • the mala mujer (p. 39) • “Love is . . . “ (p. 42)

  18. 3. The Day of the Dead • The fiesta (pp. 51-52) • Death • as mirror (p. 54) • modern death (p. 57-58) • cult of life (p. 60) • Death as Nostalgia (p. 62-63)

  19. 4. Sons of La Malinche • On history (pp. 71-72) • On bad words (p. 74) • “Hijos de la chingada!” • chingar (pp. 77, 78) • chingada v. puta (pp.79-80) • “Who’s your daddy?” (p. 80) • Solitude and guilt • Christ and Cuauhtemoc (p. 83) • Virgin of Guadalupe (p. 84-85) • Malinche and Malinchistas (pp. 86-87) Jose Clement Orozco, 1926

  20. 5. The Conquest and Colonialism • “Toltec,” Aztec, and Catholic impositions • Conquest as “the will to unity” (p. 100) • Baptism (pp. 101-102) • Sor Juana (p. 111-116) • First Dream • Reply to Sor Filotea

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