The Underdogs Marians Azuela Sparknotes

Men in the early 20th century who were fighting for the Mexican Revolution fought for two reasons: money and freedom. In the novel The Underdogs, Mariano Azuela portrays the different outlooks and different types of men in war. Azuela uses techniques such as foreshadowing and symbolism to express to the reader how each character has changed significantly as the war continues in the novel. Demetrio and his men struggle with the dangers of war and how they react to a constant battle that seems never-ending. How they react to too much power and how as the war continues the men lose their purpose. Azuela illustrates the characterization of Demetrio and his men with the use of structure portraying a cycle of corruption during the revolution. The

Luis was a young student who once fought for the Federalists, but knew they were not truly fighting for the right cause. Luis was extremely knowledgeable, always educated the group, and wanted to keep a good reputation for the rebels, seemingly because they were the underdogs and people doubted them. Luis’s morality was questioned when he stole from Don Monico’s house when he told Demetrio not to. Not only was this a form of hypocrisy, but an example of a parody in the novel. “He was astonished: it contained two diamonds, of very pure glint, set in a figure mount. He quickly hid it in his pocket.” (Azuela, pg. 78). Near the end of the novel, Luis always seems to have a financial need for money and seems to obsess over it. He also sent a message to Venacioano writing to him simply for Venancio to give him money. The desperate need for help shows the readers how an intelligent young mind can be affected by this dangerous war. And how he also became what he was fearing for, he is no closer to the federalists than he ever was, only seeking the money, looking for his next paycheck. Finally, a very admirable technique Azuela uses to define the cycle of corruption is