Liberal Literati (original) (raw)

The paper discusses the multifaceted nature of liberalism as it developed in the 19th century, focusing on how different authors perceived and portrayed this ideology. It particularly examines Manuel Payno's novel "Los bandidos de Río Frío" and the depiction of banditry as a complex form of modernity that embodies both order and chaos within Mexican society. The text argues that the character Relumbrón's bandit-state reveals the contradictions of a profit-driven system that ultimately fails due to its lack of a coherent ideological foundation. Thus, the work critiques the relationship between state, economy, and nationhood, highlighting that without a solid set of values or principles, such societal constructs are doomed to collapse.