How we cite our quotes: (Section.Paragraph)
Quote #1
And he lowered his stick against the burros for no reason at all, because they had been far ahead of us, guided by the descending trail. (2.38)
The fact that Abundio hits his mules for "no reason at all" gives us a little teaser-taste of the bloated Thanksgiving feast of gratuitous and unnecessary violence that follows. Mmm, war-crime pie and mashed assault. Oh, wait, that sounds disgusting.
Quote #2
"Rumor has it that your brother was murdered by my son, and you believe that your niece Ana was raped by him. Then there were his insults, and his lack of respect." (13.13)
Whoa, skewed perspective. Murder, rape, insults, and lack of respect are all thrown in the same "miscellaneous bad things" pile. Pedro Páramo is fully aware of the charges against his son, and owns up to them even as he is asking the priest to forgive the boy. The rich get away with murder, literally.
Quote #3
"I could only feel his body on top of me, and feel him beginning to do bad things to me.
"I thought he was going to kill me. That's what I believed, Uncle. Then I stopped thinking at all, so I would be dead before he killed me. But I guess he didn't dare." (14.17-18)
When Miguel rapes Ana, it is as traumatic as murder for her, and she wishes for death. This book doesn't pull any punches (or any other acts of violence, for that matter).