Day Of The Dead Analysis

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In Octavio Paz’s “Day of the Dead,” Paz writes about how the Mexicans celebrate fiestas as a way to show their wealth and as a way of being freed of all the social rules set upon them even if just for a moment. The narrator of the story begins by talking about Mexicans are very ritualistic people; Mexican calendars are packed with days where certain saints should be celebrated. On every fifteenth of September at exactly eleven o’clock, Mexicans celebrate El Grito de la Independencia, it is an important celebration that is never missed. Mexicans believe that poverty can only be measured by the frequency and luxury of holidays and fiestas, the more fiestas and celebrations they have, the richer they are. Holidays and fiestas are a moment where “in all of these ceremonies — national or local, trade or family — the Mexican opens out” (Paz, 49). During…show more content…
The fireworks can represent many things such as a celebration or explosions. The fireworks going off in the passage represents freedom; freedom from the strict roles imposed on Mexicans since birth. The colorful explosion of fireworks also represents a colorful explosion of oneself; all the colors that show up in the sky represent the many sides of what Mexicans are although they are usually only allowed to show one side which is the brave, fearless, emotionless side. The Mexican explodes with their true colors exposed for everyone to see even if it is for a brief moment. Fireworks are also usually not colorful and multidimensional on the outside but the inside is filled with hundreds of colors contained all at once, just like the Mexican portrays a bland outside while inside is filled with hundreds of colors which represent the many emotions inside. Fireworks are only used in a moment of celebration which is why fireworks are so important during fiestas. Fiestas are a moment of celebration where everyone is free, just like all the colors in a
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