The Death of Artemio Cruz
Author
Fuentes, Carlos
Timeline
Fuentes, Carlos was a Mexican essayist and novelist. He was born on 11th November 1928 at Panama City, Panama. He died on 15th May 2012 at Mexico City, Mexico.
Synopsis
The story is about a powerful newspaper publisher in Mexico named Artemio Cruz who recalls life while he lies on his deathbed at 71 years of age. The story also discusses power abuse and the society in Mexico.
A capitalist who is formerly a revolutionary, Artemio Cruz lies on his deathbed. However keeps drifting in and out of consciousness. His mind wanders between the present and past, when the mind is conscious. It was through his own ruthlessness, treachery, corruption and bribery that Artemio Cruz had grown rich. He had been a man full of revolutionary ideals when he was young. However his life changed and the acts he committed became a means to preserve himself. His life now was based on opportunism. At the expense of moral values, he ventured on his quest to become richer and richer. Cruz, a character, fully realized is seen as symbol of quest for wealth in Mexico.