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Leticia Neria PhD thesis - Research@StAndrews:FullText ...

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understand it if we belong to the cultural context in which the fault occurs. But for the<br />

reader, to realise that the scene is a possible world which portrays our society might<br />

bring a feeling of rebellion but also of sadness. We discover that what looks like an odd<br />

world is in fact the way that the world really is. Humour ‘no funciona para que<br />

aceptemos ese sistema de valores, pero por lo menos nos obliga a reconocer su<br />

existencia’. 173 Corrupted bureaucrats do not exist only in comic books, but they are part<br />

of our daily reality, and to admit it brings us discomfort. We enjoy that Hermelinda<br />

takes revenge on the young man who misbehaves, and that the behaviour of the<br />

authorities was revealed. However, after the pleasure, Eco states that we will feel sad,<br />

knowing that we are not able to change reality, at least by making jokes. 174 That is the<br />

point when the cold carnival emerges: after witnessing the act of humour and insulting<br />

the authority we feel relieved, avenged but finally, upset.<br />

We can say the same about corruption. When Borola is trying to find a way to<br />

release her brother from jail, she mentions a possibility: ‘El dinero ablanda a cualquiera.<br />

Préstame medio millón de pesos para repartirlo a manos llenas entre los representantes<br />

de la justicia’. 175 Later in the story she adds: ‘Un cañonazo de quince mil chuchos no lo<br />

aguanta el más honrado de los jueces’. 176 The way that Borola refers to corruption is<br />

inappropriate, and this generates comedy, but she also refers to a topic that can generate<br />

stress in the population, namely citizens gaining justice through corruption. And to<br />

admit it, according to Eco, is a way to reinforce the code, so, we criticise at the same<br />

time that we admit our destiny. The liberation is only for the soul, when we ridicule the<br />

authorities. Real freedom does not come through humour, but at least we set ourselves –<br />

just temporarily- in a situation in which we feel superior. Eco claims that at the moment<br />

173<br />

Eco, ‘Los marcos de…’, p. 18.<br />

174<br />

Ibid., p. 19.<br />

175<br />

La Familia Burrón, 16914, p. 6<br />

176<br />

Ibid., p. 15.<br />

138

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