Artemio Cruz

Artemio Cruz

Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes’s novel The Death of Artemio Cruz (1962) ranks among the most significant works of the Latin American literary boom. The book paints a picture of twentieth-century Mexico filtered through the perspective of the life of Artemio Cruz. Artemio Cruz is the author’s hero-villain. He was a rebellious young lieutenant during the revolt against Diaz.  Artemio Cruz, a wealthy, dishonest landowner in post-revolutionary Mexico. Cruz remembers noteworthy occurrences of his life while on his deathbed.

Cruz joined the Mexican Revolution, determined to fight against the owners of the land, and the rights of the peasants who provided labor to the farms. Cruz, a soldier in the Mexican Revolution, was devoted to redistributing the property to allow peasants to live a better life. Cruz associated himself with the winning group of General Alvaro Obregon, and on the initial year of the uprising, he met Regina. Regina was later brutally murdered, and Cruz became a self-centered opportunist who never opened his heart to anyone. He was captured after two years. While awaiting capital punishment, Cruz discussed the meaning of life and revolution with Gonzalo Bernal. He saved himself from the execution by agreeing to become a traitor..

Later, Cruz introduced himself to Gonzalo’s rich family and married Catalina, Gonzalo’s sister. The matrimony gave him a chance to climb the social ladder to the upper class. Cruz was able to parlay the information he gathered from Bernal into a marriage to Catalina, Bernal’s sister. A loveless marriage, it had its advantages for Cruz. During the period, women were not permitted to own properties; hence Cruz inherited the family wealthy.

Following this, he purchased a Mexico City newspaper, which he utilized to expand his holdings via its power further. He used the paper to blackmail businesses, and to ruin the reputations of political figures failed to cooperate with him. He became instrumental in helping corrupt businesses sell natural resources to the United States.

When his son, Lorenzo, turned twelve years, Cruz sent him to run the family’s land at Cocuya. He did that to hurt Catalina, whom he knew was devoted to the young boy. When Lorenzo turned seventeen years, Lorenzo followed his idealistic nature and went to Spain to fight the Fascists. Unfortunately, Lorenzo was killed in the battle, leaving Cruz with Teresa, a daughter he did not value.

On his deathbed, Cruz lies to both his wife and daughter about the location of his will. As it turns out, he leaves most of the estate to Padilla, who has been a trusted aide. Cruz comes to exemplify the class that he ruthlessly battled during the revolution. He leaves all principles and has many mistresses. Cruz dies a filthy rich man, encircled by individuals who look down on him, lacking real friends and morals. The transformation from a poor, optimistic young man, to a crooked middle age and the instability of Mexican history, are the main themes of the book. The author proposes that only the people who die young or living in abject poverty are capable of retaining their idealism.