The Underdogs: A Critique of the Mexican Revolution
1. Introduction
The Mexican Revolution of 1910-1920 is one of the most important events in Mexican history. It was a complex and multi-sided conflict that ended the regime of Porfirio Díaz and led to the creation of a new Mexican state. The revolution was also a turning point in Mexican-American relations.
Mariano Azuela’s novel “The Underdogs” is set during the early years of the revolution and tells the story of a group of peasants who take up arms against the Federales, the government forces loyal to Díaz. The novel has been praised for its realistic portrayal of the brutal reality of warfare and the human cost of the conflict.
2. Criticism of the Mexican Revolution
Azuela’s novel is critical of the Mexican Revolution, and in particular, of the use of violence as a means to achieve political change. In an interview, Azuela himself said that he wrote “The Underdogs” as a way to “condemn war, no matter what its motives.”
The book is critical not only of the violence of the Mexican Revolution, but also of the way in which it was fought. Azuela portrays the conflict as a futile and deadly struggle between two equally matched forces, in which neither side can ultimately claim victory. This view is in contrast to the more romanticized view of the revolution held by many Mexicans, who see it as a heroic struggle against a repressive regime.
3. The Underdogs as an anti-war novel
“The Underdogs” can be seen as an anti-war novel, in that it criticizes the use of violence to achieve political goals. The novel shows how war can be senseless and brutal, with no clear winner or loser. It also highlights the human cost of war, with characters on both sides suffering from death, injury, and displacement.
4. Conclusion
Mariano Azuela’s novel “The Underdogs” is a critical portrayal of the Mexican Revolution, and of war in general. The book highlights the futility and brutality of warfare, and its devastating impact on those caught up in it.
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