Day Of The Dead Pedro Paramo Analysis
Alicia De Jesus
IB DP English HL
Mrs. Clemens
01 March 2014
The Influences of the Mexican Cultural Belief of Death in Pedro Paramo
My cultural understanding of the death in Mexican Culture was further enhanced though the interactive oral as it developed my contextual understanding of Juan Rulfo’s intent of having a calm tone towards the acceptance of death in Pedro Paramo. In Mexican culture, Day of the Dead is the annual ritual celebration to honor the lives of those who died as they continue to live in their destined eternity. Through the use of colorful skulls, death is represented in vibrant and beautiful way to embrace death and accept it. It is believed that the souls are called to the cemetery with the tolling of bells from
the church while family members pray for the redemption of sins.
In Pedro Paramo, Rulfo incorporates this belief by giving life to the dead when Juan Preciado arrives to Comala. Rulfo gives the characters likewise characteristics of living human being but in reality they are only dead and their souls roam in Comala, waiting for the living to pray to God asking for forgiveness of the lost souls and to pull them out of purgatory. Rulfo’s attitude towards the dead is empathetic because he develops specific qualities to each character which makes the reader compelled to question if their souls deserve to be in purgatory.
Additionally, my interpretation of Eduvigues was greatly enhanced through the interactive oral because as I learned more about the female folk saint who widely known by the Mexican population as the La Santa Muerte. Juan Rulfo could have intentionally created the character Eduvigues, as the protector of Juan Preciado when first enters purgatory in Comala with a dying spirit. She provides a shelter for him and treats him like her own son. Similarity the La Santa Muerte is an angel trapped in purgatory trying to redeem from sin.
After all the cultural information presented though the interactive oral, has developed my contextual understanding of Juan Rulfo’s tone towards death. Juan’s tone encompasses the cultural value of honoring the dead as he compels the reader to feel empathy for the dead.
Word Count: 352
IB DP English HL
Mrs. Clemens
01 March 2014
The Influences of the Mexican Cultural Belief of Death in Pedro Paramo
My cultural understanding of the death in Mexican Culture was further enhanced though the interactive oral as it developed my contextual understanding of Juan Rulfo’s intent of having a calm tone towards the acceptance of death in Pedro Paramo. In Mexican culture, Day of the Dead is the annual ritual celebration to honor the lives of those who died as they continue to live in their destined eternity. Through the use of colorful skulls, death is represented in vibrant and beautiful way to embrace death and accept it. It is believed that the souls are called to the cemetery with the tolling of bells from
the church while family members pray for the redemption of sins.
In Pedro Paramo, Rulfo incorporates this belief by giving life to the dead when Juan Preciado arrives to Comala. Rulfo gives the characters likewise characteristics of living human being but in reality they are only dead and their souls roam in Comala, waiting for the living to pray to God asking for forgiveness of the lost souls and to pull them out of purgatory. Rulfo’s attitude towards the dead is empathetic because he develops specific qualities to each character which makes the reader compelled to question if their souls deserve to be in purgatory.
Additionally, my interpretation of Eduvigues was greatly enhanced through the interactive oral because as I learned more about the female folk saint who widely known by the Mexican population as the La Santa Muerte. Juan Rulfo could have intentionally created the character Eduvigues, as the protector of Juan Preciado when first enters purgatory in Comala with a dying spirit. She provides a shelter for him and treats him like her own son. Similarity the La Santa Muerte is an angel trapped in purgatory trying to redeem from sin.
After all the cultural information presented though the interactive oral, has developed my contextual understanding of Juan Rulfo’s tone towards death. Juan’s tone encompasses the cultural value of honoring the dead as he compels the reader to feel empathy for the dead.
Word Count: 352