Azuela

My question is: what does Palomo represent and how is the treatment of Palomo representative of the Revolution?

Palomo is Demetrio’s dog in the beginning of the book. In Spanish, Palomo means pigeon or dove, thus representing innocence. His alarm at the approaching men (5), signifies a danger approaching for his family. Like the onset of the revolution increasing in intensity, so too are Palomo’s barks (5). Palomo’s jumping over the fence heralds the remainder of the book as the start for Demetrio in the revolution. As innocence dies, the revolution begins.

The treatment of Palomo, in a way is representative of the remainder of the book. Palomo’s anger fuels him to jump the fence (6) yet results in tragedy. So too the anger of the characters leads them to band together with the rebels. All of them fighting for different things in the end. Palomo’s anger at the approaching horses is the beginning of Demetrio’s desire for vengeance.

One central message of this book is that there will always be someone below, who will face the treatment from those above. Palomo is a symbol of Demetrio and all the rebels. Once ruled by one person, fighting for a cause only to be later ruled by someone else. In Palomo’s case killed by an invader.