Analysis of The Underdogs Novel by Mariano Azuela - Book Report/Review Example

Mariano Azuela. The UnderdogsAbout the authorMariano Azuela González was born on January 1, 1873 in Lagos de Moreno in Mexico City, Jalisco.He was a Mexican author and physician. Beinga Mexican author, he was famous for the fictions he wrote regarding the Mexican Revolution which took place in 1910. His work incorporated novels, theatre work and literary criticism.Several pieces were written by Azuela, most notables beingnewspaper piece "Impressions of a Student" in 1896, the novel Andres Pérez, maderista in 1911, and Los de abajo, (or The Underdogs), in 1915.

Throughout Mexican Revolution, the factual writings of Azuela were mainly regarding the war and the way it affected Mexico. He was at the post ofa chief of political affairs under President Francisco I. Madero in Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco which washis hometown. Following the passing away of Madero, military forces of Julián Medina was joined by him, where his post was that of a field doctor. It was made compulsory for Azuela to immigrate to El Paso, Texas. Upon reaching that place he wrote The Underdogs, anactualnarrative of warfarewhilst the Mexican Revolution was in progress, which was basically constructed upon what he had experienced when in field.

In 1917 after moving to Mexico City he did not stop writing and together with that he even took up the medical profession and served the poor people for the rest of his life.Hewas awardedthe Mexican national award for literature in 1942 and foundedMexico's National Collegeon April 8, 1943 along with some others. In 1949 he was awarded with Mexican national prize for Arts and Sciences. Mexico City saw his death on March 1, 1952. His burial was in a sepulcher of the Rotonda de los Hombres Ilustres.

Plot of the novelHostile forces gainedground against the Huerta government. Pancho Villa, Carranza, Obregón led the revolutionary armies. Huertaflew Spain aftergiving his resignation as president of Mexico. The revolutionary armies made their way to Mexico City;there is opposition within these revolutionary forces, particularly between Villa and Carranza. Significance of the main characters1. Demetrio Masias: - He is a Mexican Indian who fights against government forces in the Mexican revolution.

Being treated unfairly by Federalist troops he rebelled against his own government. Peasant guerrilla forces in the revolution were represented by Demetrio and his men.2. Luis Cervantes: -He is an educated man and a medical student,and was mistreated by Federales. He does notlike the life of a soldier and was humiliated for it. Later Cervantes leavesMexico and heads for US.3. Camilla: - She is a woman from the hut who falls in love with Luis Cervantes and loved him even though Demetrio fell in love with Camilla.

But afterwards Camilla finally ends up falling in love with Demetrio and was later stabbed and killed by War paint who was jealous of their love.Effectiveness of the author integration of the real history into each storyBeing one of thebest novels of the Mexican Revolution,this masterwork is anenduring, truedescription of peasant life, revolutionary fanaticism, and political disenchantment.Works CitedAzuela, Mariano. Underdogs: With Related Texts: Pictures and Scenes from the Present Revolution.

Hackett Publishing Co, Inc, 2006.