The Nine Guardians Essay -- Literary Analysis, The Church, Indigenous

The story of the Nine Guardians takes place during the presidency of Lazaro Cardenas between 1934 and 1940. Lazaro Cardenas instituted the agrarian reform to break up the large ranches owned by the elite class and end the state of peonage in which the Indians on the ranch lived. President Cardenas government opposed the Catholic Church as it was believed to be the vehicle of superstition as well as the ally of the old regime. (Mason 1962, p80) The Churches were closed and many priest lost their lives for saying Mass. (Nicholson 1992 p 9) Women were allowed to clean the relics once per month (p 43)Catholic conservative rebel groups Cristeros were operating in many parts of the State to defend the interest of the Church, which generally coincided with those of the landlords. The Cristeros bands were mainly composed of resident Hacienda workers who were stirred to rebellion by their and maintained in arms by their landlords. Economically dependant on the Hacienda system, the priest we re not only the intellectual instigator of the revolt, but frequently were its military leaders. They taught that land distribution was contrary to the will of God and that the peon owed his landlord implicit obedience. (Huizer, year, p125) â€Å"To wear oneself out fighting against this iniquitous and senseless persecution†, p 234. Since the Church was under persecution from President Cardenas government Mass had to be said in secret. Amalia risks imprisonment by allowing her home to be used as a religious meeting place. The story depicts the injustices experienced by both women of the land owning class and the indigenous people. Lazaro Cardenas instituted agrarian reforms that would benefit the Indian population. The large ranches of land owning el... ... god. Religious meeting were held in secrecy in the homes of members of the church, mainly female members of the church. Amalia risked her freedom by holding a meeting in her home. (p232) Both the Ladinos and the Indians believed that they were being punished by their gods for the sufferings they experienced. The Mayans believed that they were being punished by their gods for the suffering their people were experiencing at the hands of the Europeans. â€Å"They came, who were destined to come; haughty and hard of manner and strong of voice, such were the instruments of our chiding†. (Castellanos, year, p 56) The religious rites and customs practised by the indigenous people were constructed by Europeans as â€Å"lies and deceptions which the devil had invented† (Tignor et al 2002, p97) They were to worship only the Christian God instead of bowing to their many idols.