The Grill By Adolfo Paro Analysis

In the book The Grill by Adolfo Pardo torture is used as a means of obtaining information from Chilean citizens, when it is both unjustified and gratuitous. Throughout the book we are able to recognize the pain and torment the victims of the torture went through, as we read the first hand account of a woman detained by the Chilean army, during the Pinochet dictatorship. She speaks of the men who detained her, and the torture and humiliation she forcefully had to endure. Sadly this was not uncommon for Chileans at the time, who held different beliefs counter to the dictatorships. This in turn, had a substantial effect on both the victims of the tortue, as well as those committing it at the will of the government. The effects of the torture …show more content…
The answer is in the text, as the government justifies these acts as a way to prevent communism. At one point while the men were beating her brother a man exclaims “So you're a motherfucking commie!” (Pardo 41) showing their disgust for those who identify with communism. During this time the red scare was prominent and the fear and propaganda surrounding communism had mass effects to all western society. The Chilean government was vehemently against communism, and was able to convince their soldiers that the inhumane acts they were committing, were justified as a way to detect and eradicate communism in their country. Out of fear of communism, and likely fear of their own government, the soldiers agreed to these acts of horror. In conclusion, The Grill by Adolfo Pardo is an inspiring and moving story of a woman who survived torture and abuse at the hands of her own government. It sheds light on the harsh reality for many Chilean citizens during the Pinochet dictatorship, and what they were forced to endure. Though many were not as lucky as the woman in this book, with thousands having been deemed disappeared persons, she was able to perceiver during her imprisonment and tell her brave story to the