Quite in opposition to this having Mexican heritage is portrayed as being something to be very proud of. This can be best displayed through the character O'Reilly. It is revealed throughout the film that he is half Irish and half Mexican. As O'Reilly lies dying with the village children around him, he asks them "What is my name-, to which they reply "Bernardo, Bernardo- (his true Mexican name), his reply to this being "Your damn Right-. Arthur G. Pettit suggests that in his dying moments "O'Reilly inverts a major traditional fictional stereotype by affirming his Mexican heritage- . His self affirmation of his true identity acts almost as a double barrel which provides the film with its moral value. He has affirmed his Mexican heritage and now brings pride to the Mexican peasants, whom were previously deemed as cowards by their children, through his dying observation that they are defending themselves, and that they are brave. .
Even Eli Wallach's character of the bandido Calvera is adjusted, and the stereotypical image somewhat lost. Although initially Calvera appears to have adopted every trope of the evil Bandido, his image changes quite dramatically throughout the film. He has his own set of moral values that previously were not included in bandido films. His code is almost respectful; as he lets the seven go free, when previous knowledge of the Bandido would suggest that his next logical step would be to kill them. He even gives them back their guns once they have left the village, under the impression that they will not return. " .Calvera is no ordinary bad Bandido he has his own code of professional ethics, which includes caring for his men and protecting the villagers from other marauders- . While Bandido's were previously displayed in other films as plunders without reason, he and his men are actually themselves starving, and are not just plundering for just the shear fun of it.
In the 1550s the Popol Vuh, an elaborate account of the history and mythology of the Quiché people in Mexico, was recorded in Spanish. 2 In the older civilizations, as in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China, historical records appear immediately after the appearance of writing, for conquering kings wished to record their triumphs for all posterity. ...
