Why I Write About Mexico:A Letter to the Editor of The Century
I write about Mexico because that is my familiar country. I was born near San Antonio, Texas. My father lived part of his youth in Mexico, and told me enchanting stories of his life there; therefore the land did not seem strange to me even at my first sight of it. During the Madero revolution I watched a street battle between Maderistas and Federal troops from the window of a cathedral; a grape-vine heavy with tiny black grapes formed a screen, and a very old Indian woman stood near me, perfectly silent, holding my sleeve. Later she said to me, when the dead were being piled for burning in the public square, "It is all a great trouble now, but it is for the sake of happiness to come." She crossed herself, and I mistook her meaning.
"In heaven?" I asked. Her scorn was splendid.
"No, on earth. Happiness for men, not for angels!"
She seemed to me then to have caught the whole meaning of revolution, and to have said it in a phrase. From that day I watched Mexico, and all the apparently unrelated events that grew out of that first struggle never seemed false or alien or aimless to me. A straight, undeviating purpose guided the working of the plan. And it permitted many fine things to grow out of the national soil, only faintly surmised during the last two or three centuries even by the Mexicans themselves. It was as if an old field had been watered, and all the long-buried seeds flourished.
About three years ago I returned to Mexico, after a long absence, to study the renascence of Mexican art—a veritable rebirth, very conscious, very powerful, of a deeply racial and personal art. I was not won to it by any artificial influence; I recognized it at once as something very natural and acceptable, a feeling for art consanguine with my own, unfolding in a revolution which returned to find its freedoms in profound and honorable sources. It would be difficult to explain in a very few words how the Mexicans have enriched their national life through the medium of their native arts. It is in everything they do and are. I cannot say, "I gathered material" for it; there was nothing so mechanical as that, but the process of absorption went on almost unconsciously, and my impressions remain not merely as of places visited and people known, but as of a moving experience in my own life that is now a part of me.
My stories are fragments, each one touching some phase of a versatile national temperament, which is a complication of simplicities: but I like best the quality of aesthetic magnificence, and, above all, the passion for individual expression without hypocrisy, which is the true genius of the race.
I have been accused by Americans of a taste for the exotic, for foreign flavors. Maybe so, for New York is the most foreign place I know, and I like it very much. But in my childhood I knew the French-Spanish people in New Orleans and the strange "Cajans" in small Louisiana towns, with their curious songs and customs and blurred patois; the German colonists in Texas and the Mexicans of the San Antonio country, until it seemed to me that all my life I had lived among people who spoke broken, laboring tongues, who put on with terrible difficulty, yet with such good faith, the ways of the dominant race about them. This is true here in New York also, I know: but I have never thought of these people as any other than American. Literally speaking, I have never been out of America; but my America has been a borderland of strange tongues and commingled races, and if they are not American, I am fearfully mistaken. The artist can do no more than deal with familiar and beloved things, from which he could not, and, above all, would not escape. So I claim that I write of things native to me, that part of America to which I belong by birth and association and temperament, which is as much the province of our native literature as Chicago or New York or San Francisco. All the things I write of I have first known, and they are real to me.
Katherine Anne Porter, 1923
Excerpted from Katherine Anne Porter: Collected Stories and Other Writings by Katherine Anne Porter. Excerpted by permission of Library of America. All rights reserved.
21 comments:
Porter was born in Texas, but she spent most of her life outside of the state. When I read Flowering Judas at first time, I’m a little confused why the setting of the story Porter arranged is in Mexico. She had traveled lots of countries. Why choose Mexico to tell a straight story and give true testimony to nature of the human? After reading the above-mentioned paragraphs, I may get more sense about the disposition. “Revolution” is a simple word, yet enormous profound meanings behind it. Although it makes Porter became disillusioned with the revolutionary movement and may even let many people in distress; however, just like the Indian woman said, it is for the sake of happiness to come. Porter stood on the historical powerful current and witnessed the significant conversion in the country. She likes the best especially in magnificent aesthetics which gave her mighty sense of touch about the rebirth in Mexico. I’m not familiar with the Mexican art; nevertheless, I could understand a little bit about that feeling. Absolutely, beauty of an art cannot be explained in one sentence. If you stand in front of an art and be astonished and left speechless by it, I think, maybe you’ll somewhat comprehend how omnipotent the potency of an art presents to you. That beauty delivers the direct and genuine intrinsic quality and uncovers the process people enrich their life. Sounds incredible! But that’s true, as I had an experience drawing a canvas. I could understand amazing pulsation an art brought to me, moreover, what Porter saw is a country go through all the vicissitudes of its life. I found some sentences she wrote, “In the face of such shape and weight of present misfortunes the voice of the individual artist may seem perhaps of no more consequence than the whirring of a cricket in the grass, but the arts do live continuously…; they outlive governments and creeds and the societies, even the very civilizations that produced them…; They are what we find again when the ruins are cleared away.” She deals with dark and bright theme about the value of art and artist. On account of her passionate and intelligent, she can completely penetrate insight of beauty.
I am always thinking that can I do something for my society or country. Taiwan is a good place for living, but the situation is also difficult and hard. Like Laura in
Flowering Judas I have an idea dream to my country; that is, I hope I can do something positive to Taiwan. Nowadays, there are too many problems in our society such as education, polity and economy. There are too many things we need to change; therefore, we need a new leader who has good capability and morality. It is hard to change a society by one person, but if there is more than one person, it will be easier. We all need to give our aids to those who are in need because it will improve our society. Although we may feel disappointed, we still need to try. If we don’t do anything, nothing will be changed. For me, I hope I can do something good to our society because I love Taiwan.
I'm interested in three parts in this article. The first one is the depiction they use to describe a revolution. I think the black in the sentence "a grape-vine heavy with tiny black grapes formed a screen" may indicates the dark side of a war or revolution; however, what interested me is the response of the woman standing near the author. She says "It is all a great trouble now, but it is for the sake of happiness to come." At first, the first idea comes into my mind is that how can we be happy after such a disaster, but then I start to appreciate her wisdom. She has the vision. She knows that the revolution pays the price but people will gain happiness after all. (Well, it depends actually.)
The second part is that the author says that she has been accused by Americans of a taste for the exotic, for foreign flavors. I think whether the place or work is foreign can not be judged only by geography. Let me make an example for it. We are in a familiar place, but sometimes in our deep heart, we think we are very unfamiliar to the place. So, I think people of America can't critic the author, because perhaps for the author, the place and the story is very familiar to her.
The third one is "The artist can do no more than deal with familiar and beloved things." I agree with it. We can bring our talents to full play if we're in a field that we are good at.
“All the things I write of I have first known ,and they are real to me .”Mexico is her origin which gives plenty of nutrients in several aspects .The first imagine of everything will always be the most impressed as well .Since I have been twenty-one years old , lots of memories in my childhood is still preserved fully until many years later .Like the fightings with my younger brother or the time I was punished because of the headstrong personality by my mother .The episodes of those are clear to recapture again easily .
The story “Flowering Judas” discusses themes about faith and betrayal , also with ideal and reality .The movie named ”Frida” that Miss Hsu mentioned in the class .I went back home with my curiosity and searched some materials of this movie .Surprisingly there are many comments from every side’s analysis with profound thoughts .At the same time it shows the topic exactly：Belief is been abandoned .
When belief is abandoned ,what else will still keep in your heart‧‧‧
In my opinion, Flowering Judas is a very special story for me because it tells about the revolution, but it is funny that the main character is the girl, not a man. I think it is a interesting story, and I believe it actually tells us much about the this country. I think it is a good thing for her to want to preserve the history of the Mexico although there is not her country. However, because of her background, she likes it very much. I also think that it is interesting that she talked to a woman. They talked about the happiness for people, not for angel. I think maybe it tells us the fight is not a good thing in the heaven; however, it is the honorable thing for people. To sum up, I think the background of Porter also influences her writing; that is, because she loves Mexico, she write it. Finally, she influence all of the readers through her writings.
I love "Flowering Judas".The author took details to look at Mexico. She wrote what is real to her. Her background influenced her literature, and it brings her literature brilliant. I think many literature is worth of reading because the writer fell their minds into the story or very realize the things which they are writing. The reality touch people's hearts deeply.
I think every person can choose create excellent artwork in their most familiar ways. I really agree with the arguments that the artist can do no more than deal with familiar and beloved things mentioned in the article. In this way, artists can create the artworks which are native and not hypocrisy .They are stimulated by the experiences of there everyday life and their culture background. Katherine Anne Porter’s works are accused of a taste for the exotic by a lot if Americans. In my opinion, the U.S.A is a country with a variety races and different cultures. However, a lot of people always deal with racial issues only from the perspective of the mainstream. One should always learned to accept and respect arguments from different perspectives.
I think every person can choose create excellent artwork in their most familiar ways. I really agree with the arguments that the artist can do no more than deal with familiar and beloved things mentioned in the article. In this way, artists can create the artworks which are native and not hypocrisy .They are stimulated by the experiences of there everyday life and their culture background. Katherine Anne Porter’s works are accused of a taste for the exotic by a lot if Americans. In my opinion, the U.S.A is a country with a variety races and different cultures. However, a lot of people always deal with racial issues only from the perspective of the mainstream. One should always learned to accept and respect arguments from different perspectives.
I think what the author said is really reasonable. “All the things I write of I have first known ,and they are real to me . I feel it is important and more interesting to read some literature of authors. Because I would like to think what the meaning inside the story or is that the author's story or their covert thoughts in mind. I feel it is a special feeling to read . It can bring me to another place. I just like the audience or people who near the characters. Maybe I could feel the weather even see the image from words in the book.
"Flowering Judas" has a complex plot,and it also reflects human being's self contradiction,thinking is different from doing.When we realize that what we think is just an image,and when we encounter disillution,we usually try to persuade oueselves,convincing ourselves to embrace it.It is irony,but it is human nature.
Flowering Judas showed same things about revolution or corruption in Mexico or other countries. When people did not have right of freedom or human right, they would cooperate to want push the government to set a new policy or make a change. After they had advantages from the government, politic parties, interest parties, and so on, they would forgot their primary ideal in the beginning such as Bioggini, or our late president. They had dream and tried to fight for the inequality first. However, when they got advantages of spirit or substances, they forgot their original intention. Not only for Flowering Judas but for Taiwan society showed me that when someone took rights or privileges they probably forgot their original dream especially in politics.
From the article, I have learned more information about Porter. Although she was born near San Antonio, Texas, she knew many stories about Mexico because her father told her in her childhood. And she also experienced the battle between two countries. In my opinion, due to the fact that she has confronted many difficulties and inspired by her father, it became the foundation of her writing skills. She mentioned that “It is all a great trouble now, but it is for the sake of happiness to come.” At first, this brought me confused about the sentence meaning in the first paragraph because if I have a hard time now, I don’t feel that happy thing will come after this difficulties. However, after reading this article again, I recognize her meaning and it applies to my life as well. When I eager to achieve my goals, I have to spend lots of time and efforts to get it. During this period of time for pursuing my aim, I’ll feel tired and anxious. But as I success finally, it’s all pay off. This feeling just like the sentences which Porter once said “It is all a great trouble now, but it is for the sake of happiness to come.”
I was a little bit confused why Porter set the place in Mexico, and this article solve my question. Flowering Judas is really a story with a difference. Porter set a female character in the revolution. I think it is really special because most of stories about revolution write about men. Besides, the story writes about many of people's dark sides, greedy, hypocrisy and so on. These above mentioned make the story more interesting and profound to me.
"It is all a great trouble now, but it is for the sake of happiness to come." It is a great profound sentence. Revolution is a bloody and painful process. However, it is essential way to fight for our rights, and through it we can become closer to our dream lives. We can see that many great leaders in the revolution become a greedy and hypocrisy monster in a fancy suit. They left their high moral norm behind and lost those passions that they want to do something to change their unfair situation in their country or in their society. “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” We should keep these words in mind. Don’t forget what is our initial passion and idea.
When I read some fictions, especially the setting in the stories is in a different place that I don’t know well, I will start to think about the author’s background. For what reasons those make her try to produce the setting in this place? Maybe this place is the author’s birthplace or this place had some special meaning to her. I like to read this kind of stories because I can read their own point of view. This point of view can make me think more about the culture in different countries. Why the characters use this way to think? Why the characters take this action? Maybe the answers of those questions are culture. The author’s special culture value influences the fictions a lot. Through these fictions, I can absorb more things and think broader than before.
To people like us, Mexico is not a familiar country like the United States or England. When I knew that the author set her story in Mexico, the only reason I came out was she wanted to let the public know more about Mexico, the place she stayed for a ling time. After reading this article. I realize that she gives the readers more than just presents her thoughts. She shows us the real thing that happens in Mexico and everything she writes is all real to her.
Flowering Judas shows a lot of details about everyones' dark side, corruption, and revolution. Althought it is revolution, the real situations are not so perfect. It includes people's desire, and I think it is realy fit in life. The conflict beteen deams and reality is irony, but it may happen in our life. "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely," I think it is absolutely right. we don't have power to cahnge, but we can remember this in mind.
In the article, Katherine said that Mexicans have enriched their national life through the medium of their native arts. I think it is worth to be cherished. As the process of the time, people forget their original culture gradually. From my point of view, having advancement is a good thing; however, leaving our nice convention still is our responsibility. No matter how progress we are, never forget the root of ours.
Porter wrote about Mexico because that her familiar country. The land did not seem strange to her even at her first sight of it. Her experience during the Madero revolution was the inspiration of her story "Flowering Judas".
The unforgettable part of this article is the conversation between Porter and the very old Indian woman. The very old Indian woman said "No, on earth. Happiness for men, not for angels!" Her every word seemed to Porter then to have caught the whole meaning of revolution. When I read this part; I finally realized why Porter wrote a story about ideals and reality. "Flowering Judas" discusses not only sexual fidelity but also revolutionary ideals, corruption, betrayal and religion. The conflicts between these various topics become the highlight of story. I am sure that there are still some missing motivations that Porter did not explain. We can figure out the secrets on our own.
"It is all a great trouble now, but it is for the sake of happindess to come." Yes, it is. As I read this sentence for the first time, I don't get the real meaning of it. But after a few times re-reading, I realized that she is trying to say that battle may be part of the process of revolution, and the revolution is for a greater happiness of mankind. The Indian women really caught the whole meaning of revolution; this is also what Porter want to portrait what part of Mexico is about--very conscious, very powerful, of deeply racial and personal art.
When Katherine Porter was young, her father told her many amazing stories of her father’s life in Mexico, and she saw a street battle, they all affects what she wrote.
In “Flowering Judas”, the woman tries to hold her faith in a complex situation. The author knows the background of revolution, so she can describe the conflict in the story and make it alive.
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