Posdata

by Octavio Paz

Prolongación crítica de El Laberinto de la soledad, Posdata (1970) ahonda en lo que está detrás de aquella célebre máscara del mexicano descrita una veintena de años antes. Por un lado, muralla protectora, identidad que nos expresa; por otro lado, prisión eterna e infranqueable. ¿Qué es el mexicano? ¿Qué oculta o muestra tras la fachada que ofrece? Dividido en tres partes, este libro de ensayos analiza los sucesos ocurridos en octubre de 1968 en Tlaltelolco, recorre la historia de México desde la destrucción de la dictadura de Porfirio Díaz y establece la imagen de la pirámide como metáfora de una estructura que depende de las jerarquías sociales.Octavio Paz(ciudad de México, 1914-1998) vuelve a la herida que ha quedado abierta y critica el autoritarismo, el estatismo, la intolerancia frente a la disidencia intelectual. Defensor de modelos de desarrollo menos inhumanos, costosos e insensatos que los de su época, proponía desde entonces un modelo de democracia que permitiera la libertad a través de una reforma profunda.

Genres: History, Nobel Prize

Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Octavio Paz Lozano was a Mexican writer, poet, and diplomat, and the winner of the 1982 Neustadt International Prize for Literature and the 1990 Nobel Prize for Literature ("for impassioned writing with wide horizons, characterized by sensuous intelligence and humanistic integrity.")

Reviews

[Bob Newman · Rating 3 out of 5]

intelligent analysis of Mexican society fifty years ago

Octavio Paz won the Nobel Prize back in 1990. I haven’t ever read any of the literature he won for, but back in the pre-internet age I did read a most thoughtful book called “The Labyrinth of Solitude” about Mexican society. Some time later (about 21 years ago) I found this slim volume in a bookshop and only read it just now.

As pyramids played an important role in pre-Columbian societies in Mexico and as Paz likens the geological structure of Mexico to a pyramid, this is the origin of the title. There are three separate essays on Mexico here. The first is about the youth uprisings clamoring around the world in 1968 among which the most violently repressed was the one in Mexico. Government soldiers gunned down around 300 demonstrating students in Tlatelolco Square in Mexico City just before the ’68 Olympics. Paz writes a very perceptive essay in which he claims that such a ferocious reaction was a sign that the PRI regime had frozen, become sclerotic. He also felt that it was a sign that the Aztec penchant for bloodletting had not disappeared from the Mexican character, but I think this is somewhat too literary as “bloodletting” seems to be a universal human trait. Later on, in the last essay, Paz denies that the Aztecs were at the apex of Mexican civilization. They were more an aberration. It’s just that the world knows more about them.

The second essay is the major one, called “Development and Other Mirages”. Mexico developed economically a lot in the thirty years after 1940. Paz says it was due to industrialization by a new capitalist class, plus US influence and all the revolutionary reforms introduced after 1920. He notes a lot of “progress, but it is a disturbing sort of modernity” which failed to create a new social order. Overall, it’s an analysis of Mexico’s trajectory since the Revolution of 1910-1920, a critique of how the Revolution became ossified and captured by powerful men who proved capitalistic and self-serving. He says that the age of blind repetition of revolutionary slogans and ideas or the same old heroic murals on city walls is over. “Mexican culture has recovered its vocation as critic of society.” (p.51) I especially liked this part-sentence on page 67—“…every revolution that stifles criticism, that denies the right to contradict those in power, that prohibits the peaceful substitution of one government for another, is a revolution that defeats itself—is a fraud.”

If only I could hammer this into the skulls of Putin, Xi Jinpeng, the ayatollahs, and a certain orange-haired wannabe dictator. But while waiting for a chance, I could have done worse than to delve into Mexico’s 20th century past and read a very astute commentary on it. I haven’t given it more stars because I don’t think it is of interest to everyone. No, you should be fairly familiar with Mexican history and able to think about what Paz is saying.

[Janey Fugate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the question Paz puts forth in his "Nota" is the central theme of Posdata: "Podemos concebir un model de desarrollo sue sea nuestra version de modernized? This inquiry is at the heart of his essay and strikes at the core of the Mexican Revolution, which he calls "un fracaso." In this way, Paz proposes that the Mexican Revolution did not bring lasting, meaningful development for the Mexican people. He contrasts Mexico with the United States, the world's example of a developed and prosperous country. Paz says that for the first time in history, Mexico and the United States can enter into a dialogue with each other about how t move forward with their relationship as neighbors. But first, the U.S. must come to terms with its "others," or its black people and other marginalized groups. Through this example, Paz also shows that "desarrollo" is not synonymous with positive advancement for many people, for both Mexicans and Americans.

[Abraham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posdata es un epílogo de la obra principal de Octavio Paz "El Laberinto de la soledad", donde se crítica al México posterior a la revolución, cuando nacen los partidos políticos y el sistema actual de política, el nacimiento del PRI y toda la corrupción que surge por el poder político.
Octavio Paz no tuvo pelos en la lengua para criticar toda la corrupción por la que se vivía en sus tiempos y que se sigue viviendo, la tragedia de Tlatelolco y toda la opresión social que se vive en el país. De hecho en un momento se atrasa unos años más para explicar como existió esa opresión desde los tiempos de la conquista.

[Adrián Lima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una reflexión excelente sobre la ficción de lo mexicano, si bien lamentablemente de las ideas de fuera Octavio Paz no está enterado, sus análisis del partido y del poder y de cómo se rige esta nación por las ideas implantadas desde el poder político

[Mary Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this essay for many reasons. First, there is tangible transition between this work and "El Laberinto de la Soledad." The Massacre of Tlatleloco in October of 1968 in La Plaza de las Tres Culturas forced Paz to adjust his perspective on the Mexican government and his country in general. Second, Paz's writing style contains such a personal touch. The reader can clearly feel the immense depth of Paz's interest and dedication to expressing his ideas and interpretations. Third and lastly, I find it very interesting that this essay is much less abstract than its prequel. Paz does not employ an ongoing metaphor, like "el laberinto," to describe the Mexican culture and their identity crisis; instead he juxtaposes elements and recounts historical events. This is not only a bit easier to understand, but also perhaps a reflection of the extent of events like the Massacre have caused on the Mexican people. There is no need for fancy description, rather a need for accurate and factual arguments.
On another note, make sure to read the "nota" before diving into the first part. I know many readers ignore the note or preface so to just start reading the main work (I am a culprit of this too). Paz effectively summarizes his argument in "El laberinto de la soledad," and describes the theme of this work. The straightforward writing style is quite refreshing.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Progress has peopled history with the marvels and monsters of technology but it has depopulated the life of man. It has given us more things but not more being."

This book came after reading The Labyrinth of Solitude by Paz. It is a thought provoking read for a person, a people, or a nation that is seeking reconciliation with the past and a functional identity moving forward. And of course, I read from the perspective of "Jesus is the Answer," not in a trite bumper sticker way but in a Colossians 1 sort of way...here are the dog-ears:

•about progress - "Progress has peopled history with the marvels and monsters of technology but it has depopulated the life of man. It has given us more things but not more being."
•pg. 261 - development at any cost - destruction of ecological balance, psychic damage to youth, abandonment of elderly, erosion of sensibilities, debasement of sex, accumulation of wastes, explosions of hatred
•pg. 283 - "whoever builds a house for future happiness builds a prison for the present."
•pg. 286 - development that is the opposite of what development really means - harmony as an important concept
•pg. 295 - creation, destruction, sacrifice
•pg. 303 - Aztec ritual
•pg. 318 - stability leads to petrification

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Throughout Laberinto de soledad Paz focuses a lot of his analysis inward, looking at the state of Mexican society and identity. One thing I enjoyed about "Postdata" was the more in-depth contextualization of Mexican affairs within the global framework of the 1960s. He makes the reader realize that the protests surrounding the 1968 Olympics were part of a much larger, international student movement. I also found it interesting that even after decades, it seemed that Mexico was still as concerned with keeping up appearances for the international community as it did during the Porfiriato, at the expense of its people. The desire to make Mexico look appealing on the surface to potential investors and in the face of international news cameras led the Mexican government to massacre protestors to cover up its internal problems.

[Misael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro fuera de mis gustos normales y juveniles y aún así capto mi atención y mi aprecio en tantos puntos; Octavio Paz y yo compartimos muchas cosas, opiniones, puntos de vista, posturas, pero mas que nada compartimos el uso de las palabras en una forma muy única y especial, es probable que esto sea lo que hizo que siguiera leyendo hasta el final, el sería mi otroismo (en sus propias palabras); aparte de este lazo invisible entre el autor y yo esta el tema que fue tratado, y aunque es un libro de hace mas de 50 años se puede seguir aplicando a la sociedad y a la política actual (mejor dicho se debería aplicar), nos ayudaría mucho en la situación actual de México-Tenochtlitan, Ayontzinapa, Peña Nieto, y todas estas maldiciones que estamos cargando.

Es una buena crítica a México, al PRI, pero principalmente a nosotros, los NeoMexicanos.

[Daphne Salinas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es un gran cambio entre este ensayo y El laberinto dela soledad, en esos veinte años entre cada uno ocurrió la matanza de Tlatelolco.
Nunca había leído un texto en donde se pudiera sentir tanto el enojo del autor, y se nota que está enojado e inconforme aunque no lo diga.

[José Raúl · Rating 5 out of 5]

La identidad y orígenes del México turbulento que llevaron al trágico evento del 2 de octubre son puestos al lector con la intención de comprender nuestro presente. Una crítica que acerca al mexicano a su historia de forma breve abordando momentos clave de la conquista. Inspira a indagar en la verdadera identidad mexicana.

[Eduardo Delgadillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me costó trabajo entender su vocabulario.

[Luis Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excelente epilogo a la obra maestra de El laberinto de la soledad.
Imperdible.
"Los gestos no son actos."

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Description of how Mexico is two countries - one of rulers and the other of the ruled. Conquistadors were the promised extension of the brutal Aztec rulers and the PRI party continues that tradition almost to this day. The shooting of over 300 student protesters in 1968 verifies the need for democracy to take Mexico to the next step - democracy and a bigger middle class. The pyramid is one of many architectural symbols, and it shows a large base with an unfinished climax.

[Alexia Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

ingeneous, the Aztec model of domination and survival, sacrifice, etc
Paz is having a conversation with me

[Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

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