Introduction
Susana and Renteria are two significant characters in developing the themes that exist in this novel. These characters form a relation around the main character and contribute to plot development, which influences how the reader perceives their influence upon the character and the entire story. Just like Rinteria, Susana fails to provide self-fulfillment for Pedro. He sought this attribute all his life. Susana died having not given back love to Pedro, while Renteria dies having not accomplished his fatherly roles to Pedro. Letdown is therefore a significant theme that links these two individuals. Punishment on Rinteria during the purgatory process would transpire for failure to satisfy the masses; while Susana would undergo purgatory for causing thorough torture to an individual who gave her his whole heart.
Susana San Juan
Susana San Juan is a significant character in this story due to the role he serves in the life of the main character, Pedro. Having grown up together with Pedro, he understands the latter well, and every decision she makes, for or against him always results in the intended purpose. The life of Susana is ribable as intricate considering all the experiences she undergoes, including the deaths of those people she relates with closely, including her mother and her father. However, of greatest significance in her entire life is the death of the love of her life and her first husband.
Susana does not get over the death of her husband and despite the efforts that Pedro inputs to own love of Susana, it never gets to the level of true love from Susana, who always involves her departed husbands in her thoughts in everything she does. Sarcastically, Susana seems to have loved her husband for his bodily features and abilities and not even an experience of sex with Pedro was sufficient in erasing the memories. This is in spite of the great efforts that Pedro had input to show great love, affection and caring for Susana. Practically, everything she does reminds her of her late husband and her major role is to have the life of Pedro more miserable than it already is.
Father Rentería
This major character also carries great significance in the life of the main character. Renteria carries great significance in bearing antagonistic qualities that influence the lives of the people he serves. In the beginning of the book, he is unknown to his son, Pedro. It is the persuasive words of his dying mother that led Pedro into finding out on his father’s whereabouts. Abandonment is therefore the first antagonistic quality that we learn of Renteria. As the father to Pedro, Renteria not only fails in implementing all the good plans he had for him, but also fails in letting him know of these intentions in the first place.
Considering the role of this individual in the society, we learn that Renteria failed in sustaining the formerly lively town of Comala with the consecrated life they deserved, in order to be assured of life after the physical death. This character lacks the courage he needed to serve his obligatory roles as efficiently as they deserved and this forms a major reason for his failures. Noticeably, Miguel successfully executes his brother and rapes on his niece, and Renteria does nothing about all this. Renteria seems to spend so much time seeking to be forgiveness, mourning for the troubles of other people, including those that had wronged him, while doing nothing to make any situation better. This character is therefore a true definition of failure in this story.
According to Susana, occurrence of death is a peace generating process. She was quoted saying, “she would want to be left in peace and rest” (Rulfo 113). This gives the reason why she declined the normal sacrament procedure as everyone underwent cleansing. Therefore, we understand the death of Susana as permanent death and not as a good process as she perceived it. Contrastingly, Renteria perceives death as a significant process that should only occur after one has accomplished his purpose on earth, and with a close link to one’s creator. This gives the reason why this individual worked so hard, even going to a new town to have his sins forgiven and for him to continue with his work successfully, which entailed giving people sacraments before they died. However, he was not successful, and as supported by textual evidence, “the place was left swarming with spirits: hordes of restless souls who died without forgiveness” (Rulfo 52).
Death and being blurred
Being blurred is signified by the actions of both characters, as it was the reason they failed in accomplishing their purposes rightfully. Susana always desired to have the company of his late husband, and was more affected by the loneliness linkable with his death, rather than the causes or purpose for which his husband died. This forms the basis of blurred notions and ideas that resulted in the loss of individuality, which characterized Susana. Additionally, she could not understand the relevance of dying a cleansed woman, and as if she would be reunited with her husband following death, she wanted to die without interferences, such as sacraments. Blindness to religious aspects was the reason she made the poor choices she often made. Blurred notions and choices are the reasons behind which Renteria made up his mind to die while striving to have the community satisfied with his work, unsuccessfully. Apparently, this individual did not benefit from his efforts; did neither his family nor his community.
Contrasting emotions and experiences
A comparison of emotions between these two individuals gives contrasting features that differentiate these individuals. Susanna is controlled by personal desires, and the feelings of other people that did not relate directly to her do not matter to her. This individual is quite emotional, and considering she is a woman, this is a typically characterizing attribute. This explains the reason she finds it difficult to get over her late husband and shows adamancy by failing to fall in love with Pedro, but not letting this show in the presence of his admirer. This gives the reason why, even after her death, Pedro still recognized her as his only love and showed much concern, and going further in making threats to the entire town for the sake of his mourning process.
Emotions were the main driving factor for Renteria, leading him into the desire of helping everyone. It seemed like the conscience associable with the wrongdoing of other people had control over his emotions. This would give the reason why it was possible for Miguel to commit the crimes he committed so freely, without his reaction. It also gives the reason why he would go and cry in the lone of a room, for the forgiveness of the sins of his people.
Conclusion
In purgatory, Susana and Renteria have to be accountable for their actions, which were influenced by the choices they made when alive. These choices were based on their understanding of various aspects that influenced the decisions they made and the manner by which they engaged in the decision-making. Most importantly, different experiences, different emotional perceptions and differences in the understanding of death are major factors of consideration, as discussed in this article.
Work cited
Juan Rulfo, Margaret Sayers Peden .Pedro Páramo Jackson, TN : Perseus Distribution, 1994
