The book "The Underdogs" by Mariano Azuela tells the story of Demetrio Macias, a peasant who joins the revolutionaries after being forced to flee his home. Demetrio and his small group of 21 men engage in battles with the federal soldiers, managing to kill all the soldiers despite being outnumbered, though Demetrio is wounded. The book depicts Demetrio as both a brave and intelligent revolutionary leader, but also as a human with flaws as he pursues a young woman while married. The character of Anastasio Montanez, Demetrio's loyal friend, provides comic relief through his intellectual conversations, while the arrival of medical student Luis Cervantes proves important for caring for

1. “The Underdogs”by Mariano AzuelaMEXICAN REVOLUTION 1915-1920

2. MEXICAN REVOLUTION 1915-1920 Prior to the revolution of 1910-1920, political and socio-economic situation in Mexico was at its worst and there were two main reasons for that. The first reason was the dictator Pofirio Diaz who, by the beginning of the revolution, had been in office for thirty years. Under his rule Mexican people had very few rights. For instance, they could not participate in political life. The second main reason was the plantation owners who abused workers and disregarded their rights. The workers were underpaid. All the wealth and power was concentrated in the hands of a small upper class. Influenced by the revolutions in China and Russia new young Mexican political leaders stepped forward but were not able to make any change for their people. The dictatorship of Diaz was not permitting any opposition. Mexican people had no other choice but to revolt.

3. “The Underdogs”by Mariano Azuela In his book, Mariano Azuela tells the story of a peasant Demetrio Macias who, by a misfortune, becomes an enemy of a powerful leader in his town. When the solders came to get him, Demetrio decided to abandon his house, family, wife Medina, and joins revolutionaries Anastasio Montanez, Quail, Pancracio, and Manteca. Soldiers are looking for them and they decide to fight them even though there are only twenty one of them. Since all of them were excellent snipers, they managed to shoot all solders yet Demetrio got wounded and two of his men went missing. As their journey continued, Demetrio and his men meet people who tell him that the soldiers were killing all men they encountered. They destroyed huts, food, and stole women.

4. “The Underdogs”by Mariano AzuelaIn the book, Demetrio represents the spirit of Mexican revolution. On one hand, he is portrayed a free spirited, fearless, and smart. He starts fights with the federalists even though he has very few men and guns. Federalists are afraid yet respect him. He fought with them even wounded. This is how, from Mexican perspective, the revolution was. Demetrio is portrayed as an intelligent person with good instincts. Throughout the book he is pictured making smart choices and trusting his instincts. On the other hand, the author portrays Demetrio as a human being who is not perfect and also has weaknesses. In the book, Demetrio who is married, has a child, yet decides to pursue Camilla, a young girl who he meets during one of the fights with federalists. What is more, he is pictured killing an innocent man.

5. “The Underdogs”by Mariano AzuelaAnastasioMontanesis one of the closest and the most loyal friends of Demetrio. He is a fighter yet he is not cruel. Anastasio joined the revolutionaries only because of his friend Demetrio. He is completely apolitical yet very intelligent man. In the book, he is pictured having sophisticated sense of humor and enjoying intellectual conversations with Luis Cervantes.While Demetrio and his men were staying in the hut, a man arrived claiming that he wanted to join the Underdogs. His name was Luis Cervantes and he was a medical student. Cervantes said that he wanted to join revolutionary movement but was unable to say what goals the revolutionaries were pursuing. As a result Demetrio did not trust him and ordered to lock him up. As a student, Luis had been with the federalists but, after seeing what they did to innocent people and peasants, he decided to join revolutionaries. His knowledge of medicine was very important to the revolutionaries since most of them were former peasants and had no access to medical care. In the book Luis is portrayed as an idealist and maximalist who, once disillusioned regarding the revolution, decided to flee Mexico to pursue his dreams and goals.

6. “The Underdogs”by Mariano AzuelaAlberto Solis is an old friend of Luis Cervantes plays a role of a philosopher or a prophet to the revolutionaries. The role of the character to the book is very similar too. Solis, as a character, analyzes everything that is going on during revolution from the stand point of morality. He also was once as idealistic as Luis but quickly learned that the revolutionaries, while fighting for good cause, are still just a bunch of bandits.General Naverais a character that represents the upper classes that also fought in Mexican Revolution. He represents the people were the head of the revolution, which started it and were leading it ideologically.

7. The Underdogs”by Mariano Azuela Compare to the women from other countries, Mexican women were much more politically active and played a number of important roles during Mexican Revolution. The character La Pintada is an example of female revolutionary spirit. She is a Soldadera which were female fighters who were as ruthless as men, fought along with men, and were treated like men. In the book La Pintada is portrayed drinking, smoking, and killing people.