Pedro Paramo

In Pedro Paramo, Comala functions as a symbol of moral decay and trauma. Before Pedro’s rise to power, the town is a typical rural Mexican community. This version of Comala is glimpsed very rarely and only in the past tense. Juan hears his mother share her memories of the “beautiful” (2) town and the views, which inspires him to visit. Only when he arrives does he realize that her nostalgia is “laced with sighs” (2). The contrast between the stark desolation of Comala in the present and the nostalgia-tinged memories of the past symbolize the downfall brought about by Pedro Paramo. This divergence between the two versions of Comala is an important juxtaposition, representing the nefarious effect that Pedro has had on the community and the seemingly doomed nature of the present.

During Pedro’s rise to power, the boundaries of Comala are an important demonstration of his transgressions. One of Pedro’s first decisions is to instruct Fulgor to accuse Toribio Aldrete of “falsifying boundaries” (36). Ironically, Aldrete’s boundaries are carefully measured and calculated—it is the accusation itself that has been falsified. Nevertheless, Pedro pursues his false claim and asserts control over the land through his lies and willingness to use violence.