The Labyrinth of Solitude (El Laberinto de la Soledad) is a book-length essay published by Mexican poet Octavio Paz in 1950. It is one of his most prominent works that includes nine parts. Loneliness is the most profound fact of human existence. Humans are the only beings who can be on their own but sometimes look for another person to accompany them. A man’s nature consists in their desire to realize themselves in another (Paz, 1961). They may feel nostalgic and seek companionship as a means of a more exciting life. Consequently, when a person takes their actions into consideration, they are mindful of the absence of the other, that is, they accept their loneliness.
Paz notes that loneliness is responsible for Mexicans’ views on death, celebration, and identity. Death is praised; however, there is something unknown after it, so people push it away. The holidays make one ‘feel’ the community, presuming the concept of not being alone. It helps identify a true Mexican, who usually denies oneself and hides their real emotions (Paz, 1961). These ideas prove that Mexicans belong to two Spanish and local cultures. Nonetheless, when they reject one aspect of their identity, loneliness absorbs them.
Starting with the chapter “Conquest and Colonialism,” Paz investigates the history of Mexico, reviewing the pre-Columbian culture and its influence on individuals’ behavior. In his research, he expresses that people reject interacting with one another after a series of painful events they had experienced. It is vivid in the interaction between Malinche and the Pachucos because they were fighting in the past (Paz, 1961). The author mainly develops an idea of a “Mexican mask” which humans used to protect themselves from unwanted communication. Therefore, loneliness is a primary theme observable throughout The Labyrinth of Solitude.
Reference
Paz, O. (1961). The labyrinth of solitude: Life and thought in Mexico. Grove Press.