Week 6 - Pedro Paramo
This was an interesting read. After being left in much confusion from last week's reading, it was definitely nice to have an idea as to what was going on at the end of the page, not to say that it wasn't challenging in its own way however. I tend to have a hard time when stories don't follow a chronological order, but I am trying my hardest to make the most out of whatever I am able to get. Growing up, I used to have a fascination for ghosts and spirits. The way the story reads let me jump into my childhood self a little bit. Sending me back to the abandoned towns, where it was always storming or raining (of course), where ghosts were just around the corner. Although this story didn't feel any need to exagurate the existence of these souls, and completely takes them for granted as if it is normal for the reader. In a way, it became almost comedic to me.
From the start, we are transported into this world where the energy seems different than usual. “And if I kept listening to the silence it was because I was not used to it; perhaps because my mind was filled with voices. I remembered what my mother had told me: “There you will hear me better. I will be closer to you. You will find that the sound of my memories is closer to you than that of my death if death has ever had a voice". A little creepy, but I can totally picture the setting and the uneasiness of any such visitor in the narrator's place. But the town was totally unexpected to him, to the picture his mother painted for him. She had initially described it as beautiful and scenic, but it turned out to be crumbling to the ground littered with rock and dust. The theme of death was brought to life, in a unique way, from the beginning. In a less obvious example, the idea that despite many characters being ghosts, they still held fear of other ghosts, as if they were as vulnerable as him. As mentioned in the lecture, “The village is caught in permanent transition, endless mourning for which the dead can not fully die, while the living can no longer fully live.” This in-between state that brought such a state of eerieness to the perspective of the story, adding an element of suspense to what proved to be a shocking reveal of who the narrator's father really was, and what damage he'd done.
My question for you is: why did Rulfo make it so hard to know when someone was actually a ghost from the past, rather than making it obvious, and maybe even more shocking? I realize that it was maybe a stylistic choice, which made the writing special, but what do you think this specific detail contributed to the story?
Hi Daisy! I had the same question! I was confused when everyone was so relaxed at the concepts of the ghosts. Miguel seemed to be very relaxed when Dyada said that she heard from his mother that he was coming to stay with her. I think that it contributed to the idea of how the people of village were trapped by the dead. Having them be so realistic, or unclear if someone was a ghost or not maybe adds to the idea of the living being constantly confused and constantly mourning. I honestly am interested to hear what others have to say about this. All I could keep thinking of is the movie "The Sixth Sense" (I won't spoil it incase anyone hasn't seen it), but this idea of realistic ghosts or hard to tell was very present in this film too.
ReplyDelete"I can totally picture the setting and the uneasiness of any such visitor in the narrator's place." It is difficult to clearly establish which voice each fragment belongs to, especially on first reading. But this contributes to the "uneasiness" feeling you mention. Above all, to that feeling of vulnerability that still persists in them, even if they are "ghosts". The construction of the novel, with all its ambiguities, contributes to the readers being affected by the text, sharing its endless mourning.
ReplyDeleteHi Daisy! I agree that this novel was a more pleasant read in regards to overall reader experience and confusion, but yes it this novel still required some effort from the reader in its own way. I like your point about how the existence of these souls was not exaggerated, which does enhance the sense of normalcy that Rulfo seemingly intended for the reader to have. Regarding the voices in Juan's head as 'visitors' was also an interesting idea that you brought forward. These 'supernatural' interactions seem like they could be considered the visitors, or perhaps the hosts depending on the perspective through which they are being looked at. To answer your question, I believe the blurred distinction serves to enhance the blurred distinction between life and death, and show how they can be inherently embedded in one another.
ReplyDelete