Men of Maze

Men of Maize is the critically acclamed novel written by Miguel Angel Asturias. Born into poverty in Guatemala City in 1899, Asturias tells the history of the post-colonized society of Guatamala that continually oppresses its native Mayan dwellers. Asturias tells this story from a wide variety of perspectives: his own personal accounts, through the history and culture of his native land, through the actions of the government, and through the eyes of the people of Guatamala. His story is moving and it brings to life, as does the testimony of Rigoberta Menchu, many of the trials and challenges that face native peoples that are forced to defend their land and fight in order to survive, but ironically Men of Maize is a ficticious work. Though Asturias uses some of his personal experiences, this novel is not told as a testimony.

Miguel Angel Asturias was born the eldest son of his middle-class parents in Guatemala. He grew up in an environment filled with heartache and struggle, forced to live under the terrifying rule of Dictator Estrada Cabrera (1898-1920). His accomplishments under this terrifying life far outweighed any turmoil he suffered however, and he later became quite scholarly in his post-adolescent years. He went on to the university in Guatemala City where he studied law and developed his love for writing. He wrote the country's first thesis there on the "Indian problem." He then went on to study in Paris for a time and worked as a newspaper correspondant when he wasn't traveling or experimenting with the socialism around him. When he returned to Guatemala, he began writing on a more prominent level as he grew older. His first major work, Leyendes de Guatemala (Legends of Guatemala), launched his career and propelled him into his next famous piece, El senor presidente (The President).

He began working on Men of Maize in the 1920's, without even realizing he was beginning to write his premier novel. Parts of the novel can be recognized from earlier publishings in French and Latin American Magazines. Most of the work was done however between 1933 and 1945 when Asturias was in one of his many unhappy and negetive phases. This period was later to be called the "dark ages" for Asturias because this was when the political opression was at its peak, and so was Asturias' anger. His scorn for the society and the inequality of the system, especially for native people, shines through his novel with the sun's fury. Men of Maize could easily be called his most influencial piece because of his passion for this topic. Eventhough this piece was not officially publisheduntil 1949 in Buenos Aires, the voice of Asturias was still heard throughout the dark years.

Most often when this novel is discussed, its composition is brought to the forefront. Thoughout the novel, native culture is a dominant force. Like this force, the novel is related to Mayan tradition. The book is broken into three phases: tribal, feudal-colonial, and capitalist-neocolonial. "The three phases based on modes of production are alligned, in mythological fashion, to the three-part Mayan cosmic design-- underworld, earth, and sky (past, present, and future..." (Martin, xvii). This in turn is based on the journey and path of the sun that represents all life, and is a direct reflection on the protagonist. Asturias uses this beautiful imagry to capture the hearts of his readers, and gives them just a slight glimpse into the secret world of the Maya. It leaves the reader captivated, and longing for the chance to experience the spiritual world of this fascinating religion. This in turn keeps the attention of the reader, and gives Asturias the opportunity to show the reader what life can really be like in Guatemala.