The document discusses the history and politics of Mexican theater. It explains that playwrights would use Aztec history and figures like Xicotencatl and Tlahuicole to illustrate the mistreatment of the mestizo class by criollos of European descent. Two playwrights, Mateos and Riva Palacio, wrote fifteen dramas and sketches about issues of independence, colonization, and religious zealotry that became foundational to Mexican theatrical thinking. It also describes the 1878 play Quetzalcoatl, which symbolically depicts the marriage of Old World and New World cultures through the image of a feathered serpent holding a cross.

1. The Politics of Mexican Theater By Ben Acosta

2. Introduction In the style of Roman theater, Mexican theater is by history and politics. Play writers would use Aztec history to point out the mistreatment of the mestizo(mixture of Indian and European) class by the criollos ( of European decent). Other figures like Maximillian were used as martyrs. The plays would usually end with a bloody conclusion.

3. Xicotencatl & Tlahuicole Tlahuicole, the Otomi warrior refused to obey Montezuma II’s offer of mercy and was sent to the gladiatorial ring. Xicotencatl was a Tlaxcalan warrior who rebelled against Cortez when he ordered Xicotencatl to attack the Aztecs and was hanged. These two men are seen as heroes in Mexican culture. Xicotencatl is used to illustrate the mistreatment by the criollos. Plays and books incite his name to enforce ideas.

4. Mateos and Riva Palacio Mateos and Riva Palacio co-wrote fifteen dramas and comic political sketch's. The issues surrounded matters of independence, colonization, and religious zealotry. Their plays have become a foundation in theatrical thinking in Mexico.

5. Quetzalcoatl Quetzalcoatl, published in 1878 is a play about a Aztec love triangle between Xochitl, a Aztec princess; her lover, Quetzalcoatl; and a Aztec military leader, Huitzilopochtli. In the play both Quetzalcoatl is poisoned and becomes the morning star. He returns to Xochitl and gives her the remaining characters a golden cross. The play ends with a image of a snake covered with serpent feathers holding a gold cross whose base is covered with Jewry. The message of the play interprets the marriage of the Old World and the New World, the image of the snake represents Mexico the offspring of this marriage.

6. The End