The Underdogs: A novel of the Mexican Revolution

Demetrio is an uneducated peasant who does not concern himself with politics, even after he begins fighting battles for politicians who are vying for control of Mexico: “To tell the truth,” he says at one point, “I don’t understand politics” (123).

When the Federals threaten his family, kill his dog, and burn down his house, Demetrio joins the rebels who are fighting against the government. Initially, he fights out of a sense of revenge. He becomes the leader of a group of rebels who are drawn to his charisma and courage. Demetrio is idealistic and throws himself into the conflict with enthusiasm and commitment. Over the course of the novel, his ideals fade and he becomes indifferent to the suffering of the peasants. Demetrio can be seen as acting out the author’s pessimism about the possibility of change through violent struggle. As foretold by Solís, by the novel’s end, Demetrio is no longer a man, but a “dead leaf” caught in the hurricane of war.

Luis is the novel’s most educated person. He is a young idealist at the beginning of the novel. He has medical training, but also writes as a journalist. Prior to joining Demetrio’s men, he condemns them as bandits and thieves in various newspapers. After he is mistreated by Federals, he grows disillusioned with them. He gives his loyalty to Demetrio—and to the Revolution—because he identifies with the poor underdogs who are oppressed as they fight against overwhelming odds.

Luis’ idealism fades along with his empathy over the course of the story. At the end of the novel, he is in the United States trying to open a restaurant. His taste for fighting and his political ideals are gone. He wishes only to be comfortable and affluent.

La Pintada’s name translates to “War Paint.” She is a tough woman who claims Güero as her romantic partner. As she travels with the group, she, like Güero, uses the backdrop of the Revolution to indulge in her worst proclivities: violence, robbery, and intimidation. She is able to justify her acts as being necessary in uncertain, dangerous times, but she routinely acts more harshly than is merited by her circumstances. She is erratic and unstable, alternating between kindnesses to Camilla and threatening to hurt her. When she is finally cast out of the camp by Demetrio, it is because she tries to stab Camilla. Without the support of the group, she is distraught, largely because she will be unable to act deplorably on her own on the same scale and without the protection of the group.