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

without pursuing any social aim. The dialogue between these characters is a way to
criticise those groups which organised these kind of illegal acts, portraying them as
selfishly seeking their own wealth rather than following a social goal. We may agree
with Avelino and despise ‘los inconformes’ because of their anti-social behaviour, and
not concern ourselves about whether they succeed in the robbery. Alternatively we can
place ourselves above all the characters and feel superior to all of them. Later in the
story, Avelino defines what he understands as an ‘expropiación’ when he says to his
poor mother that he will participate in one in order to support her: ‘Orita mismo me voy
a hacer una expropiación para cubrirte de dinero. Tomaré por la fuerza lo que no es
mío’. 224 Avelino’s reaction is exaggerated. However, his statement is pointing to what
an ‘expropiación’ could mean in the social imaginary, and by saying this is suggesting
that in fact an ‘expropiación’ might not be a solidarity action but rather a crime. If we
agree with Avelino’s point of view, then, we will appreciate the fact that someone dares
to tell the young men that they are simply criminals and not social fighters.
In this story, Avelino becomes the voice of righteousness by condemning the
lack of spirituality of the young men for not accepting their poverty with dignity.
Despite being portrayed as a hippie and a bohemian, he expresses the view of many
about the guerrillas’ actions: ‘Yo acepto todas las teorías [...] pero no estoy de acuerdo
en llevar a la práctica el abuso, el atropello a los sistemas y leyes establecidas’. 225 And
once the young men carry out a robbery in a bank, Avelino condemns them by saying:
‘Tantos días [...] nos pasamos discutiendo. Todo para que mis amigos los idealistas
resultaran unos rufianes’. 226 If we sympathise with Avelino, we might take credit for the
criticism ourselves and will enjoy the fact that someone is telling these young men what
224 Ibid., p. 23.
225 La Familia Burrón, 17195, p. 12.
226 Ibid., p. 14.
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