The notion of aridity in the work of Juan Rulfo and the paradox of Mexico’s megadiversity

Abstract

Aridity is a notion that is associated with poverty in Mexican literature of the 19th and 20th centuries, as reflected in the works of Juan Rulfo. The plain in flames and Pedro Páramo show this relationship through the description of the landscapes, the acrimony of its characters and the inhospitable reality that surrounds them. However, it is paradoxical that Mexico, despite being one of the ten megadiverse countries in the world, has 54% of its surface classified as an arid zone, where 40% of the population resides. It is paradoxical that the megadiverse countries of Latin America are going through environmental problems; it is even more surprising that the literary discourse that associates aridity with poverty does not meet the parameters of Mexican reality, since the poorest regions of the country are regions “rich” in natural resources and biodiversity.