Inaki Ortiz
Revolution and Rebellion Quotes:
“Rosalio rode up at a gallop to tell them that a troop of soldiers was approaching the ranch. Mama Elena immediately picked up her shotgun, as she cleaned it she plotted hot to hide her valuables from the greed and gluttony of these men” (88).
Other than just talking about the revolutionaries coming to the ranch, this quote emphasizes Mama Elena’s courage and determination to defend what is hers. She takes the man’s responsibility in the house and orders everyone to hide, while she comes out with the shotgun and confronts the revolutionaries, who try not to be intimidated.
Also this passage makes Mama Elena seem as a very static and tough character, since she doesn’t bend easily by the revolutionaries’ visit. I personally think this is an example of how the she is an allegorical character referring to Porfirio Diaz,
Mexico’s dictator at that time. By her not letting the soldiers come inside the house and giving orders to Tita and Chencha to stay inside, Mama Elena can be seen as tyrannical as Diaz.
“She settled on a version in which the federal troops, which Tita hated, had swooped on the ranch, set fire to the bathroom, and kidnapped Gertrudis” (58).
“All the way to town, where the rebel forces and the federal troops were engaged in a fierce battle” (54).
- Both quotes above talk about the drastic movement that was going on in the north part of the country, and how it was getting dominated by the liberals. The town itself seems to be a peaceful place; however, the unexpected visits from these troops create a mood in which is dangerous to speak out your thoughts on the revolution because you never know who you are talking to.
“When the revolutionaries arrived, they were met by Mama Elena at the entrance of the house” (89).
“They had to get every possible use from this pig, one of the few animals that had survived the visit the revolutionary army had made to the ranch a few days ago” (88).
These quotes explain how the violence was used. Since it was a revolutionary army, it was not supported by any type of government; therefore the only way to

with no water around!” (80).
Ragna illustrated me with her intelligence on this quote. I agree with her that
Mama Elena is not scared of confronting the revolution. I think that the ‘chiles with no water’ phrase is a colloquial joke on how only real men eat chiles and you are not macho enough if you have water to help with the piquancy. get food, shelter and weapons was by stealing. Even though the people from the town were exploiting from their animals, it was a type of trade for protection. In case another set of troops with different political views came to the town, then the federal troops would defend that town (not because they are “nice people”, but because they need it as a strategic point or to get more resources from).
“Nor is the revolution as dangerous as you can make it out! It’s worse to have chiles