CHAC MOOL

After finishing Aura by Carlos Fuentes, my thoughts immediately brought me to his other short story that I read called Chac Mool. Both stories seem to have remarkable similarities, as Fuentes uses the same style of mystery and deception to confuse and captivate the reader in each story. Both stories involve transformation of characters. In Aura, Felipe becomes the General (Señora Consuelo’s husband) and Aura becomes her Aunt Consuelo. Likewise in Chac Mool, the rain god Chac Mool kills Filiberto, and transforms from a stone statue into a human. Additionally, both stories contain the element of fantasy as weird and rare incidences occur throughout both short stories. In Aura, there is the moment when the cats on roof are tied together and are burning. Señora Consuelo seems to have no recollection of having any cats or knowing about any cats. In Chac Mool, the pipes burst and flood the basement even though there is no tangible cause for pipes breaking. Also, there are laments and moans heard from the basement of the house, even though there is only the statue of Chac Mool there. More so, the stone statue starts to turn into human flesh and starts to grow hair, which causes Filiberto to think he is hallucinating.

            It seems interesting to me that Fuentes’ transformations seem to be opposite to how people would usually think they occur. Traditionally, people would want to transform into a younger version of themselves, not progress older. However, Fuentes coverts Felipe and Aura into an elderly couple. Similarly, usually people want to try to become god-like. Yet, Chac Mool converts into a mortal human rather than Filiberto changing into a god.