Mythical thinking as social criticism in Pedro Páramo

Abstract

especially on the mythic discourse as fundamental element of the novel, in order especially to the criticism of “caciquismo” represented in the figure of Pedro Páramo. For this, we analyze the novel from the processes of transculturation, which indicate the pre-Hispanic and Western influences in the novel, and, particularly, from two myths underlying the text: the myth of the father’s search and the trip to the underworld. We will see, precisely, that both myths suggest a social critique closely linked to the Mexican revolution. The analysis of the literary text and its connection with mythical thinking will start from the critical perspective of Ángel Rama and from certain theoretical contributions of Gilbert Durand's hermeneutics that will allow us to focus on the mythical schemes that underlie the novel.