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Vianney Yopihua
Medel Toro
HIS 166B
Modern Mexico
11/15/15
The Death of Artemio Cruz: Historical Analysis
The Death of Artermio Cruz by Carlos Fuentes is a text that
highlights the life of a fictional character, Artemio Cruz. The text
underlines the evolution of Artemio as a character which is first
depicted as revolutionary fighting for the wellbeing of the low social
class but later betrays one of his comrades and becomes a man
without scruples. Despite Artemio Cruz being a fictional character the
text is an allegory that uses Artemio Cruz as a metaphor for the
corrupt leaders that have come to the rise and who have adopted laws
and policies in order to secure their power.
The text takes place when Artemio is seventy-one years old and
he is about to die. The novel is directed by his stream of consciousness
as he attempts to look back at his life. Initially he was a soldier in the
Mexican Revolution who fought for the betterment of the low class
workers and peasants. At this point in time, Artemio belonged to the
low social class and experienced oppression but embodied
determination and hope for a better future. His perception mirrors the
perception that was held before and during the revolution; it was the
hope and determination to create a more equal country that fueled the
Mexican Revolutionyoung Artemio represents the spirit of the
Revolution.
However, his character takes a drastic turn after the death of his
lover Regina. He mentions, His body was a blur. Not his body :
Reginas, she had taken his, giving hers in exchange. (70) The death
of Regina and the manner in which she died symbolizes the loss of

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Artemios innocence and the end of his revolutionary spirit. The
revolution aims to reform the structure of Mexico in order to allow a
more equal distribution of wealth and allow for a true democracy.
Unfortunately, the revolution proves unsuccessful and fails to improve
the living conditions of the Mexican people. The death of Regina
exemplifies the end of a generation that seeks change.
In effect, he becomes a man that is fueled by his obsession to
gain and protect his power and wealth. Once married to Catalina,
Artemio is able to access the family inheritance when her father dies.
Artemio changes from belonging to the low social class and being a
revolutionary to being part of the bourgeoisie. Once a bourgeoisie the
text describes the way in which he manipulates the system so that it
would benefit him, stating, [T]he manipulation of stock prices to move
them to [his] advantage, buying and selling, always for profit[] the
acquisition of ejido farm lands taken from their peasant occupants to
project new subdivisions in cities of the interior.(11) Artemio evolves
into a man that uses the system to benefit him even if that means
jeopardizing the wellbeing of others.
Similarly to the way in which he manipulates the stock market
prices, he also unequally distributes land, stating, [Y]ou know, boss.
They hide it, for after all, things are better now than they used to be.
But they realize that you have parted with only dry-farm fields, that
youve kept the irrigated land for yourself. (90) Before the revolution,
much of Mexicos land was owned by the elite, meaning that
farmworkers and low class workers were not given any land to farm
and consequently most of them would starve. Discontent with the
situation, many low class workers, farmers and revolutionary leaders
began a revolt that would lead to the 1910 Revolution that would
overthrow the Porfirio Dias regime. Unfortunately, despite the
revolution not much changed. Nonetheless, one of the main causes for
the revolution was the non-distribution of land. In 1934 president

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Cardenas passed the Agrarian code that would allow the redistribution
of 45 million acres of land. Unfortunately, although peasants were able
to have access to land, the land that was given was not quality land.
One of the emphases of the novel is the importance of the
revolution and the power that it holds. The text states, [T]he
revolution can satisfy them now, but tomorrow they may ask for more
and more, and what have we left to offer if we have given them
everything? Except perhaps our lives.(117) As a person in power the
revolution is dangerous because the people will ask for reforms and
change, that change will come at the cost of the positions of power
that these politicians hold. Therefor, in an attempt to avoid the people
from gaining too much power the group of elites will make small
changes to satisfy their greed.
The PRI, who was formally known as the PRM, was a party that
tried to resolve the issue of presidential succession. However the party
did not embody the ideals that it presented. The party was not in favor
of the revolution or of revolutionary reforms; the PRI was made-up of
older elites who were interested in maintaining the status quo.
Although Mexico had adopted a democratic system, it only appeared to
be a democratic country but in reality it was a re-establishment of the
Porfiriato. The PRI, a party that is currently in power, has previously
been accused of corrupt elections, that has allowed them control for
several decades. The formation of a party that did not address the
needs of the country and the poverty issues that the country faces
leads to a lack of change.
The Death or Artemio Cruz is a novel that not only focuses on
the life of Artemio and the change his character experiences when he
looses Regina but also highlights the influence that real characters
similar to him had in creating a country that continues to be divided by
social class. Actual events such as the Agrarian Reform, and the reinstallment of a Porfiriato through the rise of the Institutional

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Revolutionary Party (PRI) by men like Artemio are represented in the
text. Although the text was written more than half a century ago it
continues to be relevant today. With the Tlatelolco Massacre that took
place in 1968 the country witnessed the power of the government and
how they use it. Unfortunately, a similar event took place on
September 26th 2014 with the disappearance of 43 teacher trainees
from La Escuela Rural Ayotzinapa. The text examines how corruption in
Mexico has been an ongoing cycle and encourages the Mexican people
to revolt and create true change.

Note to the reader: The change in tense (present to past) is meant to

differentiate the difference between the text (which is present tense)
and the history (past tense).