The Death of Artemio CruzAn imaginative portrait of an unscrupulous individual, the story also serves as commentary on Mexican society, most notably on the abuse of power--a theme that runs throughout Fuentes' work. As the novel opens, Artemio Cruz, former revolutionary turned capitalist, lies on his deathbed. He drifts in and out of consciousness, and when he is conscious his mind wanders between past and present. The story reveals that Cruz became rich through treachery, bribery, corruption, and ruthlessness. As a young man he had been full of revolutionary ideals. Acts committed as a means of self-preservation soon developed into a way of life based on opportunism. A fully realized character, Cruz can also be seen as a symbol of Mexico's quest for wealth at the expense of moral values. |
Contents
Section 1 | 12 |
Section 2 | 31 |
Section 3 | 50 |
Section 4 | 114 |
Section 5 | 118 |
Section 6 | 136 |
Section 7 | 140 |
Section 8 | 162 |
Section 9 | 240 |
Section 10 | 242 |
Section 11 | 272 |
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Common terms and phrases
already arms Artemio asked blue body breath bring Catalina closed cold coming covered crossed Cruz dark dead death desire didn't door earth everything eyes face father feel feet felt finally fingers fire forget fucked girl give glass hand head hear hold horse It's keep knew land laughed leave legs light lips listen live longer looked lost Lunero matter memory morning mother mountain move never night once Padilla pain passed perhaps raised reached Regina remember rest river shouted side silence sitting sleep smell smiled standing stomach stopped sure talk tell That's things thought told took touch town turned understand Veracruz voice wait walked walls window woman women young