The Underdogs: A Tale of Revolution and Betrayal in Early 20th Century Mexico

1. Prof. Juan Bruce-Novoa Dept. Spanish & Portuguese 2006

2. Historical Context: The Underdogs1915) 1910: Sept. Centenary Celebration Oct. Madero calls for revolt. 1st Phase of Revolution 1911: May, Diaz resigns the presidency. Nov. 6 MaderoPresident 1912: Sporadic anti-Madero rebellions 1913: Feb. Madero assassinated, Gen. Victoriano HuertaPresident 2nd Phase of Revolution 1913: March, Carranza declares Revolt. Fighting in provinces. 1914: June 23, Villa takes Zacatecas*** Huerta resigns presidency. Carranza calls for a Constitutional Convention 1914: Sept, Villa & Zapata reject Carranza. Oct. Convention in Aguascalientes  Eulalio Gutiérrez President*** 3rd Phase of Revolution Nov, Carranza rejects Gutiérrez. 1915: Civil war Jan. Gutierrez flees Mexico City April 6-7. 13-15: Battles of Celaya, Villa defeated by Carranza. *** Aug. Carranza occupies Mexico City. Oct. Carranza recognized by foreign Governments. 1917: New Constitution

3. March 1908

4. Francisco Madero’s Campaign Crisscrossed Country 1909-10 Pancho Villa

5. Victoriano Huerta, President of Mexico 1913-14

6. Venustiano Carranza, Leader of Constitutionalist Revolt Against Victoriano Huerta; President 1917-1920

7. Pancho Villa PánfiloNatera

8. Z A C A T E C A S 1 9 1 4

9. Zacatecas 1914

10. Translation? The Darmok Fallacy We make sense through shared stories—Yes & No. Get story, but lose the art = only half of the story. i.e.: The Underdogs = Los de abajo p. 5: “A man squatting . . .eat . . . three folded tortillas . . . “hombre . . En cuclillas yantaba . . . Tres tortillas en taco . . . p. 117: “open fire with their machine guns... fall like stalks of wheat” “desgrana sus ametralladoras . . . caen como espigas” LOSE SUBTLETIES OF CHARACTERIZATION. p. 12: “Get the ones down there! Down there!” yelled Demetrio. —A los de abajo. . . A los abajo—exclamó Demetrio. LOSE KEY TO NOVEL´S MEANING!

11. Demetrio Macías Demetrio + Wife, baby, dog. “I tell you... Listen ... Palomo’s barking.” (wife) “federales?” replied a man. squatting...corner...bowl in his right hand... 3 folded tortillas... finished eating... gulped down water. Then he stood up. rifle...yoke, plow, cane rod & other farm tools...old adobe mold used for a bed... Child was sleeping there... Cartridge belt...Tall, powerfully built . . . ...dog...whine...barked no more

12. Rebels againstHuerta’s Federal Gov. Rebels against Rebels Villa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1516 17 18 19 20 211 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 141 2 3 4 5 6 7 Straw-hut Village Die Die Fire/Flee Fire/Flee Fire/Flee S U R P R I S E S U R P R I S E I killed I stole Revolution: Swept Away S k i r m i s h A m b u s h B A T T L E A m b u s h R e c e p. R e c e p. W h y W h y W h y W h y Why Why? ? ? ? Solís: What If? T R U E T R U E T R U E L.C. Redefines Rebel Cause

13. Repetition + Change  Message Situation Repeated: message in the difference. i.e.: Reception: p. 14 “God bless you ...” p. 114 “They don´t like us anymore ...” 2 Dead, p 13 vs 2 Dead p.51 Home(s) burning: pp. 8, 58, 79. Why I am in Revolution  Why am I in Revolution? Rev: force that sweeps things away: pp. 38, 51, 109, 116 Steal & Kill  Steal & Kill  Steal & Kill Family gathered at start vs. Family at end. 1st Ambush, pp. 20-15 vs Last, pp. 116-118 Demetrio: Start, middle, end.

14. Novel about Architecture? Novel As Architecture?

15. Adobe Home Demetrio’s Family Cave 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Z a c a t e c a s C e l a y a BATTLES S k i r m i s h Urban Homes C i t y & F o r t A m b u s h A m b u s h C h u r c h Straw-hut Village H O M E Rebels/Villa against Huerta’s Federal Gov. Rebel vs Rebel Villa vs Carranza Villa Defeated by Carranza

16. Solís: Prophetic Epiphany What if . . . ? Comes True 1st Part, Final Ch. Wait...until there are no more combatants...the pleasures of pillaging; ...psychology of our race... Condensed in two words: rob and kill ... How frustrating...if we who’ve come to offer ... our very lives to overthrow a murderous tyrant, turned out to be the architects of a pedestal enormous enough to hold a couple of hundred thousand monsters of the same species! “Ah,” he cried suddenly, “now I understand!” p. 58 2nd Parte, Framing Chs. ¨I killed” ¨I stole¨ 3rd Part, Final Ch. At the foot of an enormous chasm gaping open as sumptuously as the portico of an old cathedral, Demetrio Macías, his eyes fixed in an eternal stare, keeps on aiming down the barrel of his rifle . . . Eternal silence of death?

17. ¿The GOTHIC? The 19th Century style seen by Mexican liberal architects as inappropriate for Mexico since it represented a return to repressive Catholicism: Devolution

18. How frustrating...if we who’ve come to offer all our very lives to overthrow a murderous tyrant, turned out to be the architects of a pedestal enormous enough to hold a couple of hundred thousand monsters of the same species! REACTIONARY Prophecy Realized At the foot of an enormous chasm gaping open as sumptuously as the portico of an old cathedral, Demetrio Macías, his eyes fixed in an eternal stare, keeps on aiming down the barrel of his rifle . . .

19. Revolution as Reactionary? Victorious Government develops Rhetorical Response To Repackage the Revolution As History of Order and Meaning: Narrative and Heroes in MURALISM

30. Mexican Allegorical Family Restored to Health At Home in the Halls of the National Government