Pedro Paramo: A Collection of Characters Symbolizing the Id,

Pedro Paramo: A Collection of Characters Symbolizing the Id, Ego, and Superego
More than meets the eye. This is a statement that accurately describes the novel written by Juan Rulfo, Pedro Paramo. When a reader completes Juan Rulfo’s novel, they find out that it is not just a simple story about a young man that carries out the last dying wish of his mother by finding his father who turned him and his mother away, but an example of complex characters representing the psychological principles within people and society. Many of the major characters in Juan Rulfo’s novel fall naturally into Freud’s three psychic energy systems, the id, ego, and superego, which together function as a whole. This paper attempts to establish the premise that together the character in Pedro Paramo each represent one of the above mentioned psychic energy systems. Together all of these different characters construct a multifaceted piece of literature.
In Freudian terms, the id represents the original system of personality; a person at birth is all id. The id is the primary source of psychic energy and the base of instincts. It lacks organization and is blind, insistent, and demanding. Ruled by the principle of pleasure, the id is illogical, amoral and

l and driven to fulfill the instinctual needs of the whole. The id is the spoiled brat of personality. It does not think but only wishes or acts. The id is largely unconscious, or out of awareness.

Dona Susanita was the only person that Pedro Paramo loved perfectly. In the story, she represented what Pedro Paramo and Father Renteria could not have, love and salvation. Susanna did not cause Pedro to see the moralistic or ethical value of his action but it did sway him to strive for the perfection of love. This lost soul that did not care for anyone other than himself did have one failing, Susanna. Padre Renteria also desires Susanna’s descent to God.

Pedro further illustrates his lack of concerned for anyone but himself by his lack of respect for the law or rules placed by the country or city, when being unlawful benefits him materially. Pedro desires more land and demands that Fulgor extort the land from Aldrete by any means necessary. Fulgor questions about the lawfulness of the proceedings are met by the response “What law, Fulgor? From now on, we’re the law” (40). The reply demonstrates that total disregard to authority or justice by Pedro Paramo. The material gain of the land was of more importance to Pedro Paramo the being just or the prospect of possibly getting in trouble by the law. Pedro was not one to quiver at the possibility of failure or danger. In fact when things seem the gravest he was, nonetheless, able to impose his will. When the Revolution threatens his land, he assisted the revolutionaries with men and money. Although, it went against the politics of his economic class and against the law he sided with this outlaws. However, in truth it was an invested to insured his own well being by enabling Pedro to send an inside man to keep him informed, living by the proverb “Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer.” This only establishes that Pedro did not have any qualms about being on the other side of the law or any sense of loyalty.

Pedro’s only recognized son, Miguel Paramo, the only son raised by Miguel becomes a representation for the id as well. Miguel Paramo is only described under terrible circumstances. As an infant he was already marked as having “bad blood.” He was described, like his father, as a womanizer, murderer and rapist. This character that came from Pedro, by both nature and nurture, ended up dead in his journey for satisfaction.

The novel, Pedro Paramo, exemplify the complex structure within the human conditio