The Mexican Flashcards
by Jack London — tap or click to flip
Flashcard Review
Flashcards: The Mexican
What name does the protagonist use when he arrives at the Junta, and what was his birth name?
He calls himself Felipe Rivera. His birth name was Juan Fernandez, which he changed because the Fernandez name was known to authorities.
What is the first job Rivera is given at the Junta headquarters?
Scrubbing floors, cleaning spittoons, and washing windows -- menial labor to test his commitment to the Revolution.
How does Rivera prove his worth to the Junta before the boxing match?
He repeatedly provides unexplained sums of money, reestablishes a broken communication line to Lower California, and assassinates the Federal commander Juan Alvarado.
How much money does Rivera promise the Junta, and in what timeframe?
Five thousand dollars in three weeks -- enough to buy the guns needed to launch the Revolution across the border.
Why does Rivera insist on "winner takes all" terms for the fight?
He needs the full purse to raise ,000 for guns. An 80-20 split in Danny's favor would only give him about ,000-1,600.
What does Kelly the promoter order Rivera to do during the fight?
To throw the fight ("lay down"), promising to make Rivera's future and let him beat Danny next time.
What trick does Danny's corner attempt in the final rounds, and how does Rivera counter it?
They try to force a clinch to stage a fake foul call. Rivera avoids clinches entirely and stops throwing body blows, relying only on outfighting to deny them any excuse.
In what round does Rivera knock out Danny Ward for the final time?
The seventeenth round. Rivera feigns being hurt, lures Danny in, then drops him with a clean drive to the mouth followed by chops to the neck and jaw.
How does Paulino Vera describe Rivera to May Sethby?
He calls Rivera "the greatest patriot of us all" but also says he fears him -- "He is the breath of death."
What is Danny Ward's public persona, and how does it differ from his true nature?
He presents himself as genial and sportsmanlike with constant smiles, but underneath he is a "deliberate, cold-blooded fighter and business man" -- the geniality is a calculated mask.
Who is Roberts, and what role does he play in Rivera's boxing career?
Roberts is a trainer who discovered Rivera as a starving teenager. He used Rivera as a sparring partner and recognized his natural fighting ability, later vouching for him to fight Danny Ward.
What does May Sethby understand about Rivera that the other Junta members do not?
She recognizes his emotional isolation and loneliness -- "He knows nobody. He hates all people. Us he tolerates, for we are the way of his desire. He is alone... lonely."
Who is Spider Hagerty, and whose interests does he serve?
Spider Hagerty is Rivera's chief second in the fight, but he works for Kelly the promoter, not for Rivera. He instructs Rivera to take a beating and threatens him if he doesn't comply.
How does London contrast Rivera's motivation with Danny Ward's?
Danny fights for money and the easy life it brings. Rivera fights for the liberation of Mexico -- his cause transcends personal gain, which is why his determination is unbreakable.
How does the story illustrate systemic corruption beyond just the boxing match?
Every person in Rivera's corner -- his seconds, the referee, the promoter -- works against him. Even the audience is hostile. The entire system is designed to ensure the powerful win, mirroring the Diaz regime.
What role does racial prejudice play in Rivera's treatment before and during the fight?
He is called "little Mexican rat," "greaser," dismissed as a "dub" from a "kindergarten," and given incompetent seconds. His skill is constantly underestimated because of his ethnicity.
How does Rivera embody the theme of sacrifice throughout the story?
He endures starvation, brutal sparring sessions, racial abuse, and a rigged fight -- all without complaint or explanation -- channeling every ounce of suffering into funding the Revolution.
What narrative technique does London use during the boxing match to reveal Rivera's backstory?
Flashback. While waiting in the ring, Rivera relives memories of the Rio Blanco massacre, his parents' deaths, and his life as a fugitive -- intercutting past trauma with present action.
What is the effect of London's extensive use of animal imagery to describe Rivera?
The Junta members call him "wild wolf," "striking rattlesnake," and "stinging centipede" -- portraying him as a force of nature beyond human comprehension, reinforcing his role as an elemental revolutionary spirit.
How does London use dramatic irony in the fight scene?
The crowd sees a hopeless nobody being destroyed, while the reader knows Rivera is driven by memories of mass murder and revolutionary purpose far more powerful than anything Danny Ward understands.
What point of view does London use, and why is it effective?
Third-person omniscient. It lets London show both the Junta's confused perception of Rivera and Rivera's own inner visions, creating a gap between how others see him and what truly drives him.
What is a "Junta" as used in the story?
A political group or committee, specifically here a council of Mexican revolutionaries operating in exile in Los Angeles to overthrow the Diaz dictatorship.
What are "rurales" in the context of the story?
Mexico's rural police force under Porfirio Diaz, notorious for brutality and suppression of dissent. They are part of the oppressive system Rivera fights against.
What does "protean" mean when London calls Danny a "protean" fighter?
Able to change form or style readily. Danny can switch between fighting styles at will -- man-eating rushes, infighting, scientific boxing -- making him a versatile and dangerous opponent.
Who says "He is the Revolution incarnate" and what does it mean?
Paulino Vera says it about Rivera. It means Rivera has become the living embodiment of the revolutionary cause -- not just a supporter but the spirit of the movement itself.
What is the significance of the story's final line: "The guns were his. The Revolution could go on"?
It collapses Rivera's personal victory into the collective cause. The fight was never about him -- it was always about arming the Revolution. His suffering is justified by its purpose.
What does Rivera mean when he repeatedly says "I am working for the Revolution" in response to offers of money or food?
He refuses personal charity because his labor is ideological, not transactional. He doesn't want wages -- he wants to serve the cause, and he expects nothing in return.