The_Real_Mexican_Revolutionaries

“The Underdogs” -Mariano Azuela The Real Mexican revolutionaries The historic novel, The Underdogs, showcases the tumultuous socio-political realities spreading rampantly during the early twentieth century in Mexico. War, the main theme in this story, is supported by themes of power, social class, corruption, justice, morality, and religion. The author, Mariano Azuela, seems to struggle to when attempting to unite the widening gap between his ideals for the revolution and the poor uneducated rural Mexican people that are thought to be carrying out this distant and almost unrealistic intangible goal. Originating from a small ranch in Limon, Demetrio Macias was a lower class indigenous outlaw. His popularity grew due to his accumulating victories in battles against the federalists. He rose to become a celebrated leader after his zealous and brave military skill during battle earns him pointless victories. They are pointless for the revolution and indirectly weaken and deviate Mexican society further from progress. The revolutionary leader fights along a group of low ranking indigenous peasants that are criminals fleeing persecution. They are all fugitives who do not mind the thrill of gunfights and sabotage. Idealism goes down the drain, and the brutal behavior that was once their motivation for revolution is now their very own behavior. Their intentions are undeniably motivated by lazy selfish individualistic gain and not for collective good and progress of Mexican people. The true goals of the revolution are embodied by only one of Macias’s soldiers, Luis Cervantes. He is the only individual who is honestly fighting to improve the oppressive circumstances of the Mexican laymen. Luis Cervantes was originally an outspoken journalist for the federalist side, but unexpectedly changes his beliefs and begins to sympathize with the enemy’s ideology and purpose. He joins Macias’s ranks and immediately is labeled a curro trying to serve as a spy for the federalists. The educated journalist becomes quickly disillusioned though when he witnesses firsthand the actual underlying intentions of Macias’s soldiers: to devastate, pillage and burn village after village while denigrating and raping women. Cervantes realizes that these men fight for their own petty selfish gain. They are portrayed as hostile and criminal illusions pretending to be altruistic victims instead of trying to find a solution to the national crises and attain all the revolution’s objectives peacefully. Ironically, Luis Cervantes is the only genuine embodiment of revolutionary marching along the Sierra. The Mexican revolution advocated that education be nationalized and secular, complete separation of church and state, equal distribution of land and resources, and overall development of more equal and just treatment of the low ranking Mexican common folk. Another important principle of the revolution aimed to establish greater opportunities for social mobility enabling the poor to rise above their inherent social status rankings. It was intended to be movement for social justice against federalist oppressions and abuses of Mexican society. The reality is that his revolutionary fighters are a group of unorganized bandits creating havoc and further promoting violence and lawlessness, the very things Azuela swears to eradicate. The daily contribution of these men acting in the name of the revolution usually consisted of getting drunk and pillaging small villages. Slowly the criminals realize that their actions against the federalists are not organized and their initial motivation is gone. The Underdogs written by Mariano Azuela, we are introduced to a character that strongly symbolizes the fuel of the Mexican Revolution. Heroes like Demetrio Macias brought the suffering Mexican populous hope that things were changing and that their sacrifices would not be in vain. The novel depicts the revolution from rebels"'" viewpoint. Demetrio Macias was an Indian who wanted peace in Mexico. He was willing to give up everything that he owned for the rights of everyone else. He believed that everyone should have the opportunity to own land and live well. Although Demetrio Macias, the general (colonel) of a rebel army is hunting down the army of Pancho Villa, he seems to have the same ideals as the enemy. 

The character of Demetrio Macias proves to be quite ironic. One facet of his character reveals his determination to find Pancho Villa’s army, while the other side of his character parallels the extraordinary qualities Pancho Villa had as a hero. People viewed Pancho Villa as a revered hero who pushed out foreign "proprietors" and fought for the common man. On one hand, there is the compassionate man who helped those in need and rescued orphans providing them with food, education, and a home. On the other hand, there was the ferocious general who destroyed villages and killed innocent victims. Villa was generous and helpful to his followers, of which he insisted on loyalty and trust, but to those who violated his trust and authority, he was merciless and cruel. We can clearly see the similarities of these two leaders when we analyze their noble actions. Demetrio’s reluctance to stop fighting when the influence of his troops is no longer benefiting the needy or improving the declining socio-political atmosphere.