Outline
The Underdogs
Lecture 2
Bruce-Novoa
1910: Sept. Centenary Celebration
Oct. Madero calls for revolt.
1st Phase of Revolution
Nov. 20 Revolution begins
1911: May, Rebels take Juárez: Diaz
resigns the presidency.
Nov. 6 Madero becomes President
1912: Sporadic anti-Madero rebellions
1913: Feb. Madero assassinated, Gen.Victoriano Huertaà President
2nd Phase of Revolution
1913: March, Carranza declares Revolt.
Fighting in provinces.
1914: June 23, Villa takes Zacatecas ***
July, Huerta resigns presidency.
Carranza calls for a Convention for October. to set up new government.
1914: Sept, Villa rejects Carranza as
leader.
Gen. Zapata rejects Carranza.
Oct. Convention in Aguascalientes
à Eulalio Gutiérrez President***
3rd Phase of Revolution
Nov, Carranza rejects Gutiérrez.
1915: Civil war
Jan. Gutierrez flee Mexico City
April 6-7. 13-15: Battles of Celaya, Villa decisively defeated by
Carranza’s army. ***
June 3, Villa defeated in Silao
June 4-5, Villa defeated in León
Aug. Carranza occupies Mexico City.
Oct. Carranza presidency recognized by foreign Governments.
1917: New Constitution
2.Return to comparison of opening chapter of The Underdogs and the painting by Saturnino Herrán with which we end first lecture.
3.The novel is carefully structured through a series of repeated scenes, with the difference from one to the other constituting the development of the plot. See chart on Power Point.
Some examples are:
a. Reception: p. 14 "God bless you ..."
p. 114 "They don´t like us anymore ..."
d. Why in Revolution à Why in Revolution?
e. Rev. As force that sweeps things away: pp. 38, 51, 109
f. Rob & Steal à Rob & Steal à Rob & Steal
g. Family gathered at start vs. Family at end.
h. 1st Ambush, pp. 20-15 vs Last, pp. 116-118
i. Demetrio: Start, middle, end.
4. The novel includes architecture at the thematic level, with many structures being destroyed and looted. It is important to follow this line of development to find where it will end and what it means.
5. The novel also has its own architecture that reflects the plot, but tells us more about what is happening. (See Chart)
6. The character of Solís, the disillusioned intellectual, plays a major role. He will raise the question about the goals of the Revolution and suggest how one might judge its success. In the last chapter of Part 1, Solís speaks as a man about to die, so his words can be read as those of a prophet having an epiphany.
7. Solís' words can be read in the light of the discussion of architecture, especially regarding Mexican architects' critique of Gothic architecture. The novel's last scene can be read as the realization of Solís' prediction of frustration.
8. In the face of the possibility that the Revolution might be seen as a failure or a reactionary turn in Mexican history, the Government sought a way to recast it in terms of "history." That is, with a narrative line, meaningful development, and heroic figures. The space in which this is clearing seen is in muralism. We will see examples drawn from Diego Rivera and José Clemente Orozco.
9. While some of the murals suggest some ambiguities in the revolutionary process, in the end the overwhelming effect is positive. The muralists allowed the Revolution to present a new version of the allegory of the nation as a wealthy family.