Pages 43–44
Two total strangers have a lovers' quarrel, which goes badly
Previously, Juan Preciado is in ghost hell and just can’t get away from ghosts reliving the painful memories of their lives. This is a fun book.
Pages 43–44
Once again, one person we’ve never heard of before and another unidentified person (so who knows) have their own whole little soap opera B-plot in the middle of this book. A male suitor is trying to convince a woman named Chona to run away with him. Her issue? She has to take care of her old father, so why can’t they just wait for him to die first. His issue with that? She said the same thing last year!
Futhermore, he hired the mules now!
–I had to hire the mules. And they’re here now. Just waiting for you. Let him take care of himself! You’re good-looking. And young. There’s got to be some old woman who’d come take care of him. This place is loaded with kind souls.
This place? Are we sure this is even taking place in Comala?
She refuses to change her mind, despite the mules. He caves and says he’ll go see yet another woman we haven’t heard of before, Juliana, who is “crazy about me”. He immediately fails to commit to the bit.
–Okay then. I won’t stand in your way.
–Don’t you want to see me tomorrow?
–No. I never want to see you again.
tl;dr wtf happened in Pedro Páramo today
Upon reflection… I kind of love this? This scene is like when Twin Peaks cuts to two seemingly unconnected dweebs having their own spat, threatening to break up, and who even knows what the stakes are for these idiots in love that may or may not have anything to do with the main plot. It’s great. Maybe Chona’s lover will show up later with another unknown character who’ll prove instrumental in Pedro Páramo’s downfall. Or maybe he’ll just suffer more from time to time. Who knows what the future holds? But for now, we have this delightful little tale of a few idiots:
