Pedro Paramo... the significance of "Hell on Earth"

         

             The first chapter in the novel Pedro Paramo, there are multiple objects that identify and/ or signify deeper meaning than what it means on a surface level. Juan is remembering the promise he had made to his mother to see Pedro Paramo, Juan's father and Dolores's husband. As he lets go of his mother's "death grip", there's a significance that his mother doesn't want to let him go. It's as if she wants him to die or stay with her in the after life. Like death has possessed her into dragging her son down with her to either Heaven or hell. The promise itself signifies shackles or chains that are tying him down to death, his deceased mother and the past memories of her at death's door. This could also symbolize that no matter how hard we try to avoid it, death will always come for everyone and anyone at anytime at all. Before her death, Dolores whimpers/whispers to Juan that Pedro will be called one thing and others will call him another. This shows that evil is two-faced. It can be nice and look really sweet in the beginning, yet be an evil person when no one is looking. The novel Pedro Paramo has a deeper meaning than meets the eye. Read between the lines to understand the deeper meaning this mother and son's last time together.

By: Larena Gonzales