Often the popularity of certain world figures can take dimensions that override their original contribution to history in the period in which they existed. In basic terms, this can be explained when looking at such figures as Mandela, Nixon, Einstein, and others, where each of them would be associated with a certain event or action that surpasses their other contributions, positive or negative.
In that regard, looking at such a figure as Ernesto “Che” Guevara, such statements can be specifically true. The contributions of Che Guevara can be seen through many biographical facts, part of which made him known during his life, and others gained him a cult status after his death. This paper analyzes the impact of Che Guevara based on his journey with Alberto Granado, which was depicted in the film “The Motorcycle Diaries” (2004), stating that their different paths are related to the sense of rejection that distinguished Guevara.
For people who are not informed of the political contribution of Guevara, the first association related to his name will be a sense of revolutionary romanticism. This can be specifically evident when looking at his journey with Granado. Two young men leave everything behind them to travel to Latin America. This sense of romanticism that many people of the current generation cannot afford. What is most important is the transformation process through which Guevara went during this journey, which makes his personality is believable and appealing to people. Aside from the contribution to politics, the contribution to culture can be seen through such examples as the interest that was given to him through such movies as the aforementioned “The Motorcycle Diaries” and several films with the title “Che” in 2005, 2008 and 2009.
As the film focused on the facts of Guevara’s life prior to his guerilla activities, another point of influence related to his journey is the sense of rejection. Guevara rejected his lifestyle and his potential career in medicine for ideals he believed in, a rejection that many of the people and even supporters of Guevara also cannot make, which might serve as appoint of admiration for many people. As stated by biographer Pacho O’Donnell, “Today Che is associated in the collective conscience with values — his ethics, his principles, his willingness to lose his life for an ideal,” (McDonnell, 2007) In that regard, although “The Motorcycle Diaries” did not show Guevara losing his life, it certainly did show him replacing one life for another, something that Alberto Granado would not do, which in no way underestimates his achievements. The difference is mainly in the conscious choices made by each of them.
There were also apparent similarities between Guevara and Granado, in a sense that they both were ambitious adventurers, both witnessed the poverty and the division between classes, and each of them disapproved of what he saw. Analyzing the movie, one might argue whether the influence in choosing their future path was established in that journey or not, and if so why Granado did not follow Guevara. The answer can be seen in a combination of factors, mainly related to personality and how each of them versioned the way to solve the injustice they saw.
The different paths of Guevara and Granado can be seen through the words of Granado himself describing Che, where he stated later in his life about Che’s character that “He was not compromising. It wasn’t easy unless you shared his vision and believed in it.” (“‘My best friend Che’,” 2005) Accordingly such difference were visible through the way the saw their purpose in life, where although they both realized that they had a common sensibility for “the things that were wrong and unjust” (“‘My best friend Che’,” 2005), Granado saw himself traveling the world and curing leprosy” (Macnab, 2004). Guevara on the other hand, said goodbye to institutional medicine and chose the road to liberation. (“‘My best friend Che’,” 2005).
It can be concluded that the impact of Guevara on culture can be related partly to youthful romanticism depicted in “The Motorcycle Diaries”. Although for people who witnessed the events in which Guevara was politically active, he might resemble more than romanticism. For others, the biography of Guevara might be associated with rebellion, opposition, and maximalism. It can be argued which of the mentioned contributed more to Guevara’s cult status, but nevertheless, it cannot be argued that Guevara and Granado’s journey is a historical mark in both biographies.
References
- Macnab, G. (2004). My ride with Che.The Guardian Web.
- McDonnell, P. J. (2007). Che Guevara’s legacy looms larger than ever in Latin America. Los Angeles Times.
- ‘My best friend Che‘. (2005). BBC News. Web.
- Salles, W. (Writer). ( 2004). The Motorcycle Diaries [DVD]. In D. Burman, D. Dubcovsky, E. Tenenbaum & K. Tenkhoff (Producer). U.S.: Universal Studios.