Juan Rulfos Pedro Paramo and Religion :: Juan Rulfo Pedro Paramo Essays

Juan Rulfos Pedro Paramo and Religion In the novel Pedro Paramo, Juan Rulfo uses ghostlyness as a characteristic that contrasts with the characters lack of virtuous codes and lack of faith normally attri anded to religion. The people in the town of Comala atomic number 18 obsessed with the afterlife and prayer, and they even attend church regularly, but these be just habits that have lost their original meaning. Rulfo uses these symbolic activities to make the characters dichotomous nature more apparent. Father Renteras occupation, the town priest, de mankindds integrity, purity, and the power to count his own teachings. Father Rentera might, at one time, have had those attributes but something changed him. The actualisation and consequences of his own conflictive nature haunt Rentera, and the town subconsciously senses his anguish, thus cast light on Comalas religious and psychological condition. A marvel arises about Renteras disillusionment with religion Did the t ownspeople make Rentera misanthropical or did his doubts lead them astray? I think it was more of the former, and the particle accelerator in Renteras religious failing was just one man Miguel Paramo. Miguel Paramo killed Father Renteras brother and raped Renteras niece Ana. These events were merely taken in stride with Renteras philosophy of never hate anyone but it was the death of Miguel that dashed Renteras religious beliefs. Father Rentera performed the funeral ceremony and did not offer a final benediction partly for selfish reasons of revenge, victimisation his pastoral robe as a barrier. Disregarding Renteras pixilated remarks of Miguel, Pedro Paramo offered gold to the priest as restitution, or a bribe, and said, Weigh him and discharge him, as perhaps God has forgiven him. At Paramos defiance, Rentera realized that his religious power was no longer effective or revered in Comala, because Paramos gold was now the controlling force in the land. broken and de pressed, Rentera no longer felt worthy of his office What has their faith won them? Heaven? Or the purification of their souls? And why purify their souls anyway, at the run low moment Rentera had lost all faith in his religion and himself. As if he had failed a test, he says, Alright Lord, you win. Father Rentera represents the constant press a person has to maintain personal integrity against outside turpitude and personal vices.