Octavio Paz - La "Inteligencia" Mexicana

 … La nueva educacion se fundaria en “la sangre, la lengua y el pueblo”.

Chapters 7 and 8, La “Inteligencia” Mexicana and Nuestros Dias, were both good chapters that included a lot of history of Mexico. I liked Chapter 7 and the numerous important people that Paz introduced. Among them all, Jose Vasconcelos stuck out most for me. Paz describes Vasconcelos as the “fruto de la Revolucion”.  After doing some research on him, I learned that he was a Mexican writer, philosopher and politician. He was one of the most influential and controversial people in the development of modern Mexico. Chapter Seven uses historical figures, like that of Jose Vasconcelos, to demonstrate the “intelligence” of Mexico’s ancestors. Through the reading, and more research on Vasconcelos, it is learned that he began to build schools throughout the republic.

Foreign trade also opened the door of Mexico’s intelligence. The history reveals that the Mexican Revolution brought Mexico to a point where it would be able to accommodate its future? Still a little bit confused on this theory but it’s what I made out of the chapter. Is it that the revolution was what brought on the modern Mexico?

The chapter names of Paz’s work appear fitting and appropriate to the story he is trying to tell. It is known that his essays were written individually and put together for this work. La “Inteligencia” Mexicana proves where the intelligence of Mexico’s history comes from… that is, from people like Vasconcelos, Ramos, Cuesta, etc. Nuestros Dias, on the other hand, which translates to “our days” is somewhat a play with words. I wouldn’t say the work was meant for current, present days, but what Mexico is to come… it is because of the days that Paz experiences is what brings the country of Mexico to its future. Hmm… either way, still pondering on a lot of this.