Genre
Essays
Setting and Context
Written in the context of contemporary Mexico between 1940s and 1950s
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
The tone is candid and the mood is reflective.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Octavio Paz is the protagonist of the story.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is that the culture that is meant to unify people is doing more harm by bringing division and isolation among the Pachuco. The entire generation of Pachuco became spiritual orphans.
Climax
The climax comes in ‘Day of the Dead’ in which people are invited to celebrate their differences and enhance unity.
Foreshadowing
The rising of Pachuco in the 1940s and 1950s foreshadowed division and disunity.
Understatement
The alienation of Pachuco is understated. The Pachuco is a group of young people who needed proper guidance to enhance unity in the society.
Allusions
The story alludes to cultural differences that shaped the modern-day Mexico.
Imagery
The purity of the sky described by the author appeals the sense of sight to readers.
Paradox
The main paradox is that the Pachuco chooses a contradictory lifestyle. Despite refusing to follow their Mexican culture, the also reject the North American culture where they live.
Parallelism
The behavior of Pachuco parallels the modern day attributes of the youths who want to follow their path in total disregard of societal expectations.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
The ‘hubbub of fiesta night’ is a metonymy for the adolescents’ desire to live a personal and unique lifestyle.
Personification
N/A
