The Underdogs: A novel of the Mexican Revolution

Demetrio is an uneducated peasant who does not concern himself with politics, even after he begins fighting battles for politicians who are vying for control of Mexico: “To tell the truth,” he says at one point, “I don’t understand politics” (123).

When the Federals threaten his family, kill his dog, and burn down his house, Demetrio joins the rebels who are fighting against the government. Initially, he fights out of a sense of revenge. He becomes the leader of a group of rebels who are drawn to his charisma and courage. Demetrio is idealistic and throws himself into the conflict with enthusiasm and commitment. Over the course of the novel, his ideals fade and he becomes indifferent to the suffering of the peasants. Demetrio can be seen as acting out the author’s pessimism about the possibility of change through violent struggle. As foretold by Solís, by the novel’s end, Demetrio is no longer a man, but a “dead leaf” caught in the hurricane of war.

Luis is the novel’s most educated person. He is a young idealist at the beginning of the novel. He has medical training, but also writes as a journalist. Prior to joining Demetrio’s men, he condemns them as bandits and thieves in various newspapers.