Terra Nostra Analysis

Mexico’s turbulent history has brought about some of the greatest literary authors of all time. Through their writing they were able to write stories which defined a Mexican culture and identity. Readers were able to pick up their books and read the authors’ interpretation of major events that affected many at the time. Carlos Fuentes was a specific author who did all that and more. Carlos Fuentes was an important Mexican author who revolutionized the impact of Mexican literature during the Latin American Boom by emphasizing the necessity of maintaining the Mexican Identity, and the importance that writing plays in politics.
Carlos Fuentes began to gain national attention during the Latin American Boom which truly marked the significance and
Historical continuity and importance of the Mexican identity was a common theme in Fuentes’s writing as noted in Revista De Critica Literaria Latinoamericana, “Fuentes invented a literary notion of Mexican Identity, which is best described in his novel ‘Terra Nostra.’Other of his subjects mentioned include the idea of Latin America in Fuentes' literature, his historical narrative technique, and his use of time as a literary device” (Paolo 438). Fuentes often relied on the use of the past to bring about an important message. In his novel “Terra Nostra” he wrote on the influence of the Spanish on the Indigenous community and how the Mexican narrative was told as a result. He greatly emphasized the importance of telling the history of the people of the land not only the result of battles and treaties. He wrote in his novel La región más transparente, "If Mexicans do not save themselves, not a single man in all creation will save himself” (Fuentez 298). His common theme was that Mexicans needed to desperately take matters into their own hands. What made him into such an exemplary writer was not only his works, but also the time in which he wrote of these themes. Many people were able to relate to the literature of Carlos Fuentes due to the turmoil that the Mexican nation faced at the
He wrote in an essay for Tiempo Mexicano, “What a writer can do politically, he should also do as a citizen. In a country like ours writers, intellectuals, can’t stay away from the struggle of political transformation that, ultimately, also supposes a cultural transformation” (Fuentes). He was never quiet about his political views and often encouraged others to be aware of Mexico’s political state. He was always involved in politics as his parents were diplomats; however, he found that through literature he could better make the people aware of politics. Till his death he was a political activist, as he grew up facing the results of Mexico’s political structure, and incorporated it into his writing. Fuentes’ most known novel, “The Death of Artemio Cruz” discusses the results of Mexico’s corrupt politics through the use of literary fiction, “Unfortunate land, said the old man to himself as he walked slowly back to the library, unfortunate land where each generation must destroy its masters and place them with new masters equally ambitious and rapacious” (Fuentes 288). He writes the sad truth about the forgotten dreams and failures of revolutionary ideals and shows through the character Artemio who recounts his days as a revolutionary lieutenant. Artemio was a successful revolutionary figure only to forget his original ideals in exchange for money and power. He emphasizes that readers