Strong and Weak
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Strong and Weak: Review
By: Luis Gerardo Domínguez Mirazo
The historical novel, despite telling a fictional story, conveys an idea.
unequivocal of the context in which it was written, since it seeks to adhere to the
reality. For this reason, the description of objects, places, and
characters manage to make the reader a direct witness to the
events that the work narrates. An example of this is the book Strong and Weak that,
with great detail, manages to transport the readers to a time and space in
specific.
Before addressing the explanation of the work, I believe it is necessary to present,
briefly, the life of the author. José López Portillo y Rojas was a lawyer,
Mexican academic and politician, born in Guadalajara on May 26, 1850, in
the bosom of a well-to-do family. He obtained his degree in law in 1871
and, in the following years, held several public positions, such as that of deputy
federal, senator, and governor of Jalisco. Upon leaving political life, he decided
continue his literary creation work until his death in 1923.1
The novel 'Strong and Weak' describes the social landscape that is lived by the
bourgeois and peasant population of Mexico, corresponding to the central region of
country, in the early second decade of the 19th century. It should be added that this work
does not focus on the life of a single character: it is a collection of stories that
they can be connected and related through the adventures of Juan
Josefina Mac Gregor, "José López Portillo y Rojas", in Patricia Galeana coord.
1
Chancellors of Mexico, T II, Mexico, Secretariat of Foreign Relations-Institute
Matías Romero of Diplomatic Studies, 1992, p. 99-101, 109, 112-114.
2
Nepomuceno Bolaños, better known as 'Cheno', the only character that
intervenes directly in each situation. However, each story, although
depends on Cheno, manages to act on his own. For this reason, and to
To facilitate the explanation, I will divide this work into three parts according to its theme.
(consciously ignoring the structure that Portillo establishes in his book).
The first part focuses on the life of Mrs. Carlota and her daughter Ana; aunt and
Cheno's cousins, respectively. These two characters represent the class
privileged traditional of the capital, which is why Portillo takes the opportunity to describe, in
the actions of these, the customs of the "old bourgeoisie". The main
The problem that arises for them begins when Cheno wants
to commit to Ana. For this reason, Bolaños is starting to be investigated by
his aunt and his cousin in order to grant her the blessing. As a result of this situation, arise
other conflicts that Ana and Carlota must face on their own.
The second section focuses on the relationship that Cheno establishes with the
Montalvo family. The conflict that arises with them is that of financing.
an attack against the president of the Republic. It is in this matter where
Cheno, despite being against the conspiracy, found himself tempted by the
Clara Montalvo's supposed love decides to support this movement. However,
with the fall of the executive representative, revolutionary groups emerge that
they declare against the new regime, attacking the purposes that the conspiracy
was trying to establish.
At this point, Portillo narrates the practices that neo families exercise.
burgers," which, unlike the traditional ones, are influenced by
different fashions and have ignored old customs. We must also add
3
that, although the story of the Montalvo is brief, its importance in the work is
unique: reveals the power that the upper class could exert against the state despite
of not being directly immersed in politics.
Finally, we have the situation that arises in San Víctor, a town,
relatively far from the capital, where Cheno's estate is located: here
Portillo narrates the birth of an insurrection, focusing on the history.
the love story of Tacha and Chema, a farming couple who are separated by
Bolaños' orders, since he sought to have Tacha under his control. It is in
this part where it is made clear who Bolaños is, since it describes
all their sins.
In conclusion, it is admirable how Portillo manages to describe the social situation.
from Mexico in the early second decade of the 19th century, focusing on the
conflicts, which always have their origin in a romantic reason, of different kinds
social and from different areas. We must add that the detailed way in
the objects, situations, people, and places are described,
it allows to establish a clear and fixed image in the reader's mind; therefore