Chapter 2 Mexican Masks Summary and Analysis

Mexican people view the world around them as dangerous. The hostility of their environment and their history teach them to protect themselves. They display suspicion and distrust, closing themselves through defense using words, silence, politeness, resignation, and irony. Such attitude is also apparent in the language full of metaphors, allusions, and phrases. They are afraid of exposing themselves. In their behavior they display certain gestures to create poses that hide what they really think. These masks serve them as defense while at the same time provide separation from their reality. For them life is a combat. Various aspects of their world have been imposed upon them, such as when invaders tried to instill their values and beliefs upon Indian people. Despite their defensive attitudes they tend to surrender through resignation. They struggle individually with views and beliefs...