The Human Inability to Reduplicate Christ's Suffering in Perfect Form

In both Maria Concepcion and The Martyr, we see the suffering of individuals. In both cases, these sufferings are induced by others, but are internalized by the afflicted characters in different ways. The afflictions faced by the characters Maria and Rueben parallel Christ’s own suffering. However, both of these characters are human and thus, imperfect, and cannot suffer in the same selfless manner of Christ.

Maria Concepcion’s suffering more closely resembles Christ’s than does Rueben’s. Maria suffers the loss of her newborn child after her husband’s betrayal, but rather than curse him and openly bemoan her pitiful state, she secludes herself and attends church with increasing frequency. However, when Reuben is abandoned by his sitter Isabella, he suffers openly, making his burden the burden of his friends.

Though Maria Concepcion suffers nobly, her downfall is ultimately her desire for vengeance. When Maria Rosa returns with Juan, Maria Concepcion’s husband, Maria Concepcion’s jealously and pride erupts and she murders her husband’s lover. In contrast, Rueben’s downfall is his own self-hatred. Rueben outwardly portrays this hate by eating absurd proportions of food, though he can see how this habit is affecting his health. Ultimately, this gluttonous, self-hatred kills Rueben.

While Maria’s flaw may seem worse than Rueben’s, these characters are judged differently by their peers. After the murder, no one speaks out agaist Maria Concepcion, although they all know she killed Maria Rosa. Furthermore, they do not protest when Maria Concepcion claims Maria Rosa’s baby for her own. In the villagers minds, this action seems just, and Maria Concepcion’s pious life seems to right this immense wrong. In contrast, though Rueben’s suffering harms only himself, no one seems to truly remember him. Rather, one man decides to write a book that will ultimately profit the author, and says that he will truly remember the tamales, Rueben’s favorite dish.

Thus, both Maria and Rueben commit fallacies. While Maria suffers inwardly, Rueben suffers outwardly. Maria’s suffering ends in murder while Rueben’s suffering ends in self-inflicted death. Maria’s peers stand up for her, while Rueben’s merely forget him. Thus, both characters cannot suffer silently for other and are ultimately blinded by their own human desires.