India as a Reference in Octavio Paz

Abstract

Mexican poet Octavio Paz is a major figure in contemporary literature. An important stage of his writing deals with personal experiences or philosophical and religious traditions from India. In this paper, we focus on a set of principal points and figures in which these influences appear inside his work. The Indian presence is visible not only in his poems of East Slope [Ladera este] but in other works he wrote specifically to clarify his points of view, knowledge, and feelings about this country. Other works in which India is a principal topic are In Light of India [Vislumbres de la India], and The Grammatical Monkey [El mono gramático]. The Double Flame [La llama doble] and some translations also connect with India. Octavio Paz had a particular interest in ancient Mexican culture, searching there for the deepest signification of being a Mexican, as he was. But, on the other side, Paz identifies himself as a citizen of the world, focused on languages, history, myths and arts from several countries or, at least, groups of countries. Ancestral manifestations from various places were particularly meaningful to him because of the links he found between them. In this way, a great amount of his work is based on comparisons and analogies.