Pedro Páramo's Power In Mexico

In Mexico, if one wants to be powerful own the land, if one wants to serve live on that land. Caciquismo, a system were caciques own the land and as a result the townspeople, is a major part of Mexico’s early history. The character of Pedro Páramo illustrates the power that those early caciques had over the people who lived on their land. Additionally, there are many parallels between Pedro and Porfirio Diaz, the president during the Mexican revolution, in the way that they use their power. With all the power that these men had, corruption began to prosper throughout the country. In Pedro Páramo, Juan Rulfo shows the corrupt nature of caciquismo and President Porfirio Diaz through the corrupt ways Pedro acquires his power and how he uses said …show more content…
Diaz was a mestizo (part Indian) by birth and came from humble beginnings. As a young man, he began training for the priesthood, but enlisted in the army when war with the United States broke out and had an illustrious military career. Pedro was also sent to the seminary by his father, Don Lucas: “‘I tried sending him to the seminary, hoping at least he would have enough to eat and could look after his mother when I’m no longer here. But he didn’t even stick with that’” (38). Both Pedro and Porfirio Diaz could of ended up in very different places had they continued studying to become priests, but they both fell victim to the violence that consumed the country. During his first four years in office, Diaz did very little to improve the standard of living in Mexico and his administration was mostly known for putting down revolts. In his second outing as president, Diaz would destroy all other leadership so most of the workers answered directly to him strengthening his grip on Mexico. In the same way, Pedro would kill off any other landowner who refused to willingly give up their land to him, for it allowed him to prevent an uprising against him and made sure he kept a firm hold on Comala. One of the most similar aspects between the two men was how they both secured power. Diaz secured his power by catering to the different social classes and the church. He would buy their …show more content…
Caciquismo built Mexico, for throughout the country's history there has always been a powerful figure to rule over those who are perceived as weak. Whether it is a cacique like Pedro, Porfirio Diaz or the Spanish, when one person is elevated above other people the effect is corruption. Compassion for other people becomes insignificant to the selfish desires of those who deem themselves more important. This mentality is not limited to Mexico, but can be seen throughout history and the modern day as the root cause of corruption and