Myth Meets Modernity in Carlos Fuentess Chac Mool

Chac Mool by Carlos Fuentes depicts the conflict between the ancient Colombian mythological history and the contemporary social Mexico. Fuentes uses the supernatural aspect of the rain god, Chac Mood, to reveal how myth is still being utilized to influence the modern identity factor in an era that is largely dominated by rationality, bureaucracy, and progress. The author demonstrates the intersection of myth and modernity by disrupting the worldview of rationality that Filiberto has, the power of the Chac Mool as a symbol of cultural memory, and the non-linear narrative mode that blends the supernatural with regular life.

Fuentes highlights the conflict between myth and modernity in the manner in which supernatural powers start to erode the rational and bureaucratic worldview of Filiberto. As an honest government worker, Filiberto comes to the Chac Mool as a curiosity piece of art, and not a religious one. Nevertheless, the inexplicable flood that happens after the appearance of the statue represents the incursion of ancient forces into a modern home. The unexplainable water damage is a challenge to the reliance on logic by Filiberto and his faith that all the events are scientifically explained. The flood is one of the initial indicators that the contemporary order is unable to either hold or reject the existence of myth. Presenting the bewilderment and disillusionment of Filiberto, Fuentes reveals that myth disrupts the self-belief of the modern man in his reason and shows the boundaries of his vision.

The increasing presence of the Chac Mool in the storyline can be seen as the cultural memory taking over the modern identity of Filiberto. The fact that the statue gradually turns into a living being indicates how the suppressed indigenous background comes back with a vengeance. The progressive degradation of Filiberto to the demands of Chac Mool points to a greater metaphor, a contemporary Mexican identity that tries to forget or deny its mythological roots, is exposed to be conquered by them (Fiveable, 2025). The backdrop of the modern reality is transformed and literally touched by the physical signs, like the stone impression that was left on the hand of Pepe when he shook hands in the course of the action. By depriving Filiberto of agency, Fuentes hints at the precariousness of modernity based on the denial of the past, and that myth still tries to enforce itself as a strong cultural instrument.

Fuentes also combines myth and modernity through the format of the narrative structure of the story, especially the fragmentation of diaries that break the timeline. The journal switches between the repetitive nature of Filiberto and his bureaucratic existence and the ever more unrealistic happenings around Chac Mool. This nonlinear form collapses the border demarcating past and present, indicating that myth is not a part of the ancient past but rather an active intrusion on and into the modern world. The fragmentation of the orderly narrative of Filiberto aims to show the breaking up of the linear temporality on which modern life relies. The combination of modernity with the supernatural in Fuentes' story is born in a world where the two worlds do not sit well with each other, making it hard to discern between the real and the legend.

The concern of Fuentes with the relationship between myth and modernity is consistent with his general literary agenda of touching on the issue of Mexican identity. The sad destiny of Filiberto, who is discovered dead and in his place the human-like Chac Mool stands, is a lesson of what can happen to the rejection of cultural heritage. Fuentes does not portray myth and modernity as mutually exclusive elements of the national experience, but instead tries to show how the two are intertwined. He argues that modern Mexico is inexplicable without recognizing the continuing existence of myth in Mexican cultural consciousness (Fuentes, 2015). The advent and dominance of Chac Mool indicates that the past still needs to be heard, felt in the present, and determine the future.

Overall, Chac Mool demonstrates that myth and modernity are two distinct phenomena that are closely connected to the Mexican identity. Fuentes indicates that contemporary society tries to exist on the principles of logic, progress, and bureaucracy, but the mythological past remains the force that makes its appearance in strong and unpredictable directions. The narrative eventually indicates that it is only after recognizing this intersection that contemporary people will be able to get to know themselves and their own cultural backgrounds. Using the symbolic character of Chac Mool, Fuentes discloses that myth is still a living force in modern life, forming not only the personal identity but also national history.