Introduction
The history of Mexico is regarded to be one of the most interesting moments of world history. The fact is that colonizers managed to eliminate the domestic civilization and create the developing country in the fertile plains of Central-America. Originally, this analysis will be based on the historical research by Octavio Paz, named “The Labyrinth of Solitude”. As for the matters of ethnic identity, colonialism, or symbolism of revolution, which are discussed as the main features of Mexican history, it should be emphasized that these are the historical concepts, which shape the image of the Mexican nation on the political map and in the historical course of the world.
The main theme of the essays of this book is closely associated with the matters of Mexican Identity and it is aimed at demonstrating how deep the feeling of solitude for Mexicans in this world is. The issues of bi-culturalism and multiculturalism are the matters which define the Mexican identity, as their culture was based on the perception of the world in accordance with the attitude of the other countries towards Mexico, and on the cultural traditions of Indians and Europeans. The matter of fact is that, the issues of multiculturalism have shaped the traditional representation of the world by Mexicans, and such sub-culture as Pachucos, which will be described in the research, symbolizes the Mexico itself during the first century of its independence: independent, lonesome and apathetic. Originally, in the light of this notion Paz emphasizes that the national identity of Mexicans is closely associated with the perspectives of death, fiesta and identity in general. Mesoamerica was made up of a complex of autonomous peoples, nations, and cultures, each with its own differing traditions and cultural heritages mixed and at last became one.
Mexico by Paz
The main issues of the book are closely related with the matters of traditional views on the surrounding world, and the integral parts of human life as death, leisure and the nature. As for the matters of fiestas, it should be emphasized that they differ from the fiestas in Spain and express the sense of communality. If Spanish fiesta is aimed at relaxing before continuing the working day, Mexicans need to know that they are not alone in the desert, or some lonesome town in the desert. They emphasize the idea of not being alone and in helps Mexicans to realize their self-being. This representation of fiesta clearly defines the process of cultural inheritance of Spanish culture and the creation of indigenous legacy by denying an essential part of their own identity and becoming stuck in a world of solitude. (Paz, 129)
Continuing the issues of national development, it should be stated that unfavorable natural conditions during the early periods of Mexican history, which caused unknown deceases, and then the serious conflicts among gangsters gangs made the issues of death rather close for the Mexican population. Death is regarded as the event that should be celebrated, as a man leaves this cruel world, however, this event is also repelled, as people are not certain in what is behind death.
The author emphasizes the fact the historical development of this state is rather interesting. Around 9,000 years ago, ancient Amerindians managed to domesticate corn, which caused the initiation of an agricultural revolution. This revolution, in its turn, lead to the formation of the following civilizations. These civilizations were even more culturally developed then the European peoples. Their writing, monumental architecture, astronomical studies, mathematics, and militaries surprise the contemporary historians with the high levels of their development. Nevertheless, these civilizations were destroyed with the arrival of the Spaniards in 1519. The following periods of Mexican history are closely linked with Spanish colonization, War with the USA after receiving the formal independence from Spain, and then brief ruling of France after its invasion to Mexico in 1861. The comparatively isolated geographical location (isolated from the other Spanish speaking countries) shaped the deep feeling of solitude. (Paz, 49)
Taking into consideration the factor of Spanish imperialism, and how it made what Mexico is or Mexicans today, it should be emphasized that numerous features of Spanish culture and traditions might be traced in Mexican customs. As Paz emphasizes in his study:
“A study of the great myths concerning the origin of man and the meaning of our presence on earth reveals that every culture in the sense of a complex of values created and shared in common stems from the conviction that man the intruder has broken or violated the order of the universe. He has inflicted a wound on the compact flesh of the world, and chaos, which is the ancient and, natural condition of life, can emerge again from this rupture. The return of ‘ancient Original Disorder’ is a menace that has obsessed every consciousness in every period of history.” (Paz, 41)
Currently, Mexico is the country which actively plays on the world political arena, and which aims to overcome all the possible difficulties in social, political and economic spheres. Nevertheless, the features of apathy and loneliness are still attributed to its behavior in diplomatic sphere.
Dialectical Complexity
This part of the research requires the selection of a passage from the book for the analysis. The following passage was selected:
“…it seems to me there is something revealing in the insistence with which a people will question itself during certain periods of its growth. To become aware of our history is to become aware of our singularity.” (Paz, 87)
It describes an aspect of the Mexican Pachuco sub-culture. This culture appeared in 1930s, and its appearing is explained by the wish of youth to separate from the traditional cultural representations of Mexico, achieve cultural, financial and social independence. They have marginalized and invented their own dialect of Mexican Spanish. Traditional clothing is represented with a zoot suit, wide hat and sometimes a gun.
The reason for pachuco differentiation is covered in the historical development particularities. It has been already emphasized that Mexican culture is the result of fusion of Spanish traditions and the culture of indigenous people. In spite of the fact that Spanish dwellers inhabited Mexico, Spain did not wish to support the development of this colony, regarding it as just a source of raw materials. The independence, which was proclaimed in 1821 was mostly formal, and did not presuppose any possibility for the political, economic or social development. Moreover, any assistance for defending the integrity and sovereignty of the territory could not be expected from Spain. The war with the USA caused the loss of at least half of Mexican territory. Mexican politicians did not have the intention to strive for the successful development of Mexico; consequently, even after 100 years of independence proclamation, Mexico stayed a poor country, with undeveloped infrastructure and poorly developed industry. The environment of unemployment and stagnation caused the appearing of the social class, who wished to overcome the difficulties by any cost – gangsters, and those, who just wished to split of the traditional society. (Paz, 231)
The attitude of pachucos towards the political processes, economic difficulties and social marginalization are regarded as obstinate, and sometimes even fanatical in the regard of their determination to be not like those, who surrounded them. They did not wish to become Mexicans again, however, the American life style neither attracted them. Their purpose seems to be very shady, as they did not proclaim any aim, and any claim. Even the name of this subculture originated numerous debates. Paz emphasizes the notion that the purpose of this dandyism, which seems very grotesque, is not much to point out the injustice and the inability of Mexican society to assimilate pachucos. Moreover, they aimed to demonstrate their personal intention to stay different. As Paz (p.115) states: “Everything caused them to conceive of the world as more as a problem or enigma than as a place of salvation or perdition.” Pachuco is a man who belongs to nowhere, he is eager to perform his redemption, however, he can not stay without society that rejected him. Some of them try to enter the North American society, however, the ways, which were selected for entering it, appeared to be too daring and too wrong for being successful.
Their disappearing on the social map of Mexico caused serious debates. Originally, numerous factors promoted their disappearing from the social structure of North America. They evolved into the sub culture of Chicanos. Some of the elements stayed the same, such as slag and zoot suit, nevertheless, Chicanos appeared to be more politically active. Later, in 1970s the necessity in dandyism disappeared, as well as the violent nature of gang life. The gangs accepted the new “corporate” style, while pachuco slang and zoot suit appeared to be outdated. Currently, the suit remains the integral element of formal wear for urban and rural Latino youths in heavily ethnic neighborhoods.
As for the meaning of the chapter name “The Pachuco and Other Extremes”, it should be emphasized that the selected passage represents the originality and uniqueness of the Pachucos as sub-culture. The fact is that, the uniqueness of this trend is covered in the notion that any other sub-culture aimed to marginalize from the rest of the society. The singularity of pachucos symbolizes the role of Mexico on the political map of the world: it does not belong to anybody; no one wishes to support it, or promote its development; it seems that it abandoned the whole world; nevertheless, it is the integral part of the political and economic processes of the world structure. The matters of solitude are clearly observable, and Paz argues in his book that solitude is regarded to be the deepest fact of human condition:
Man is the only being who knows he is alone, and the only one who seeks out another. His nature-if that word can be used in reference to man, who has ‘invented’ himself by saying ‘no’ to nature- consists in his longing to realize himself in another. Man is nostalgia and a search for communion. Therefore, when he is aware of himself he is aware of his lack of another, that is, of his solitude. (Paz, 284)
However, this isolation appeared to be useless, and youth has realized that there is no necessity to be so apathetic, as well as Mexico started participating in the world political and economic processes for the accelerated development of internal structures. Thus, as it is stated by Paz: “In every man there is the possibility of his being or, to be more exact, of his becoming once again another man.” Thus, Mexicans have the chance to change the image of Mexico, as colonists have earlier changed it.
Conclusion
Finally, there is strong necessity to emphasize that the role of indigenous people and the Spanish cultural legacy have originated the unique and interesting historical processes on the territory of Mexico. The historical background made Mexico the country with the unique social trends. Pachucos are now regarded as the response to the stagnation and deadlock, caused by the difficult social and political processes, which caused essential economic difficulties.
References
Paz, Octavio. The Labyrinth of Solitude. Grove Press, 1994.