Father Renteria’s religious struggle…hits close to home
One of the most interesting and powerful points in Juan Rulfo’s novel Pedro Paramo is the use of religion in context will all of the characters associated in the book…most pointedly, Father Reneria. In a community where everyone uses the tools of relgion to get by on a day to day basis, Father Reneria began, we can assume, as a faithful, loving, hopeful, moral, and dedicated man of the cloth that strived to live a good life in his faith. However, a disillusionment of this religion is birthed by two cataclytic events in Father Reneria’s life. Upon the killing of his brother by Miguel Paramo, and the rape of his niece, Reneria embarks on an inner struggle with himeself, his faith, and the outside corruption of the world and society.
Is the outside world and society so powerful that it can take a man of such extreme faith, such as Reneria, and turn him against himself and his faith? If this is so for a priest, what hope can we as “mere people” have in store for ourselves. If the leader of the church and community struggles with inner thoughts of greed, hate, and revence….how can just and ordinary person continue on a path of rightousness and goodness. Are daily prayers and confession enough? Is it true forgivemess if one asks for the forgiveness and then CONTINUES to pursue the acts they orignally asked forgivemess for?
A poingnant moment in the book is during Reneria’s confession. The struggle is so apparent that the words “i have sinned” and the taste of blood in his mouth leaves a vision that Reneria is losing his faith..his very life to the corruption and greed around him in his life. Rulfo uses the loss of Reneria’s faith and morality to prove a point. Is there a way to eternal salvation by acts alone? Is society’s faith in itself strong enough to overcome and use only partial parts of relgion to achieve its whole goal?
I have witnessed many levels of faith, morality, good acts, and more associated with relgion my entire life. Rulfo uses a priest to show the power of society and its pressures on just about anyone, regardless of their faith level, title in life, or even WANT TO in life. He also uses the people of Comalan to demonstrate how easily people are swayed to believe what THEY want to believe to be true, rather than what is true (subjective).
The church I attended growing up had something HORRIBLE happen while going there. The pastor was arrested for rape, child molestation, child pornography, and assault. The entire church was uprooted, split, and many never returned due to a loss in faith. How could the “big guy” get so far gone? Was the outside corruption so much that he lost his original morality? Did he ever have any morals at all? If the pastor can be so easity swayed away and led astray….what would happen to us “regular” followers? Is is enough, as Rulfo makes the point in his novel, that a simple prayer or daily confession is enough to erase away all the sin and guilt?
Rulfo points out society’s weaknesses and criticizes the greed and corruption of a people. He goes so far as to show the one figure that should not be corrupted….be corrupted to such a degree in his heart that he essentially loses who he is. The absence of faith in Renteria and the people of Comalan shows just how powerful the outside world can be and the pressures it brings upon people, even those dedicated to living their lives for a good purpose.
I, however naive it sounds, still believe to the nth degree in human spirit, love, hope, and faith. If not, i would not be able to stand it….I just look at my family, friends, and loved ones and know that no matter how hard this world pushes you down….you will stand again.
