Discursive axes and popular religiosity in the story Anacleto Morones: fanaticism and veneration to a holy man

Abstract

Literature fulfills a socio-cultural role of paramount importance, reflecting concerns about life, love and death; religion as need coincides with art, a form of expression that bears witness of the facts and doings of human beings. In the narrative of Juan Rulfo, religious themes and manifestations of popular piety are identified, as in the case of “Anacleto Morones”, who is the character in which the story centers. In the tale there are two discursive axes, the first is run by Lucas Lucatero, who mockingly evidence that Anacleto was a fraud who abused of the credibility of the people, the other axis is related with the female characters who represent the women of the town, who sing prayers, carry scapulars and look for the canonization of Anacleto. They believe in his miracles and defend his honesty.