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

vacío, puesto al revés fingió que le echaba un libro de aceite.’ 179 In Los Agachados a
taxi driver is portrayed saying to a potential customer: ‘Voy a entregar, pero si dan un
cien, los llevo.’ 180 The taxi driver is saying that he will take the person to his destination
only if he pays him more money, because his work shift is finished. Borola describes
how some employees cheat customers, and the man speaking to Briagoberto is claiming
that leisure places used to abuse their clients. In all these situations, society is failing. It
is abusing itself. But the characters who suffered the abuse are animalistic –as Eco
argues –or we feel superior to them; therefore, we feel no sympathy for them and in fact
we enjoy their tragedy. However, a social truth has been revealed, and noticing it
darkens our enjoyment and brings a sour taste. The readers recognise the reality and to
reveal it brings them relaxation, but also bitterness. 181 Reality has been criticised and
exposed it, but at the end, the world is as ridiculous as it was portrayed. Even if the
norms are attacked, humour cannot destroy or change them.
A final example of this mechanism of humour is found in discussions of
machismo. When Briagoberto is visiting the Burrón family, Borola interrupts his
conversation with Regino, which bothers Briagoberto. Briagoberto replies: ‘Oiga esto,
Güereja. La casa se hizo pa’la mujer, la taberna pa’los hombres. Así que váyase a su
cocina y cierre el pico ¿’tamos?’ 182 Briagoberto’s attitude shows his macho way of
thinking, but he is also the generalisation of Mexican men (and even women) who
thought the same way. Also, knowing the character from previous issues, we know that
he behaves in a macho way, does not respect women, has children with different women
and does not support them financially. He drinks, fights, carries a gun, and in general is
an absurd character. But all this caricaturing of Briagoberto as a ridiculous character
179 La Familia Burrón, 17189, p. 33.
180 Los Agachados, 269, p. 8.
181 Eco, ‘Los marcos de…’, p. 20.
182 La Familia Burrón, 17171, p. 25.
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