Mexico

Juan Rulfo: They Have Given Us the Land

Juan Rulfo: They Have Given Us the Land

They Have Given Us the Land (Nos han dado la tierra), a story by Juan Rulfo published in the magazine Pan in 1945, narrates the march of a group of peasants who are going to take possession of some land given to them by the government. Walking under a relentless sun, they reflect on the uselessness of the land assigned to them, where no seed can grow. The story describes their struggle and resignation in an inhospitable environment and the lack of hope for the future.

The Stories of Juan Rulfo

Juan Rulfo color

Discover the best stories by Juan Rulfo, master of magical realism and Mexican literature. Explore unforgettable tales such as They Have Given Us the Land and Luvina, where loneliness, death and destiny come to life. Read his complete stories and immerse yourself in his literary universe.

Juan Rulfo: Luvina. Summary and analysis

Juan Rulfo - Luvina. Resumen y análisis

In “Luvina,” a story by Juan Rulfo, a man recounts his experience in a desolate village where nature and abandonment seem to have condemned its inhabitants to resignation and poverty. Through his memories, he describes an arid place lashed by a constant wind, where life seems to stand still and dreams fade away. Luvina is more than a physical space; it symbolizes helplessness and resistance to adversity. As he warns his interlocutor about what awaits him in that place, the narrator reveals how his time in Luvina transformed his illusions into disenchantment, offering a powerful portrait of the human struggle against destiny.

Juan Rulfo: Luvina

Juan Rulfo - Luvina

In “Luvina,” a story published in El llano en llamas (1953), Juan Rulfo describes an inhospitable village lashed by the constant wind and the aridity of its surroundings. Through the memories of a man who narrates his experience in it, a place is presented where nature and time seem to have stopped, leaving only the echo of loneliness and sadness. The inhabitants, marked by resignation, live a hard and monotonous life tied to the barren land and the weight of their dead. In the middle of this desolate landscape, the narrator shares his melancholy reflection on the futile struggle against an implacable destiny.

Juan Rulfo: You Don’t Hear Dogs Barking. Summary and analysis

Juan Rulfo: You Don't Hear Dogs Barking. Summary and analysis

Juan Rulfo’s “You Don’t Hear Dogs Barking” (No oyes ladrar los perros) is a moving story about a father who carries his badly wounded son, Ignacio, on a grueling nighttime journey to the town of Tonaya to seek medical help. Through the father’s internal monologues, the problematic relationship between the two is revealed, marked by disappointment and resentment towards the son for his life of crime. However, driven by the memory of his late wife, the older man perseveres in his sacrifice, only to discover in the end that Ignacio has died along the way.