Octavio Paz Octavio Paz

By: Chris Muldoon and Matt By: Chris Muldoon and Matt DiFlorio DiFlorio

ChildhoodChildhood

Octavio Paz was born in Mexico City in on Octavio Paz was born in Mexico City in on March 31March 31stst, 1914., 1914.His father was active in politics, an aide to His father was active in politics, an aide to Emiliano Zapata, a populist land reformer who Emiliano Zapata, a populist land reformer who led a revolution against the government; a few led a revolution against the government; a few years of Paz’s childhood were spent in Los years of Paz’s childhood were spent in Los Angeles, to which his father was forced to run off Angeles, to which his father was forced to run off after Zapata was killed in 1919. after Zapata was killed in 1919. When the family returned to Mexico City, Paz When the family returned to Mexico City, Paz was in his teen years and began publishing was in his teen years and began publishing poetry and short stories. He enrolled in law poetry and short stories. He enrolled in law school.school.

AdulthoodAdulthood

Paz was an expert translator fluent in several languages, and he Paz was an expert translator fluent in several languages, and he also founded and edited literary periodicals designed to introduce also founded and edited literary periodicals designed to introduce Latin American readers to international writers and their works.Latin American readers to international writers and their works.While Paz was still young, his father was hit and killed by a train. While Paz was still young, his father was hit and killed by a train. Later he wrote of his father's death in the poem, “Pasado en claro,” Later he wrote of his father's death in the poem, “Pasado en claro,” translated in English as “A Draft of Shadows.”translated in English as “A Draft of Shadows.”Paz later visited France, spent two years in the United States, and Paz later visited France, spent two years in the United States, and in 1945, began a twenty-three-year career in the Mexican diplomatic in 1945, began a twenty-three-year career in the Mexican diplomatic corps.corps.In 1962, he became the ambassador to India, later he resigned this In 1962, he became the ambassador to India, later he resigned this post in 1968 in protest of the massacre of student protesters in post in 1968 in protest of the massacre of student protesters in Mexico City by government forces.Mexico City by government forces.By 1972, he was editing the literary journal By 1972, he was editing the literary journal Plural.Plural. Four years later Four years later he founded he founded Vuelta,Vuelta, which has become one of the foremost Latin which has become one of the foremost Latin American literary journals. American literary journals. Paz died on April 19, 1998, in Mexico City. Paz died on April 19, 1998, in Mexico City.

Major WorksMajor Works

Paz mostly wrote about politics, religion, Paz mostly wrote about politics, religion, anthropology, archaeology, and poetics. anthropology, archaeology, and poetics.

His most famous poems were His most famous poems were Pasado en Pasado en claro (A Draft of Shadows)claro (A Draft of Shadows) in 1975, in 1975, Arbol Arbol adentro (A Tree Within)adentro (A Tree Within) in 1987, and in 1987, and A A Tale of Two GardensTale of Two Gardens in 1997. in 1997.

Accomplishments Accomplishments

In addition to winning the Nobel Prize in In addition to winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1990, Paz won numerous awards Literature in 1990, Paz won numerous awards throughout his career, including the International throughout his career, including the International Poetry Prize in Brussels in 1963, the Jerusalem Poetry Prize in Brussels in 1963, the Jerusalem Literature Prize and The National Prize in Letters Literature Prize and The National Prize in Letters in Mexico, in 1977. in Mexico, in 1977. In the following decade, he was awarded the In the following decade, he was awarded the Miguel de Cervantes Prize in Madrid in1981, the Miguel de Cervantes Prize in Madrid in1981, the Neustadt Literature Prize of the University of Neustadt Literature Prize of the University of Oklahoma in 1982, the German booksellers' Oklahoma in 1982, the German booksellers' Peace Prize in 1984, and the Oslo Poetry Prize Peace Prize in 1984, and the Oslo Poetry Prize in 1985.in 1985.

The StreetThe Street

Here is a long and silent street.Here is a long and silent street.I walk in blackness and I stumble and fallI walk in blackness and I stumble and falland rise, and I walk blind, my feetand rise, and I walk blind, my feettrampling the silent stones and the dry leaves.trampling the silent stones and the dry leaves.Someone behind me also tramples, stones, leaves:Someone behind me also tramples, stones, leaves:if I slow down, he slows;if I slow down, he slows;if I run, he runs I turn : nobody.if I run, he runs I turn : nobody.Everything dark and doorless,Everything dark and doorless,only my steps aware of me,only my steps aware of me,I turning and turning among these cornersI turning and turning among these cornerswhich lead forever to the streetwhich lead forever to the streetwhere nobody waits for, nobody follows me, where nobody waits for, nobody follows me, where I pursue a man who stumbleswhere I pursue a man who stumblesand rises and says when he sees me : nobody. and rises and says when he sees me : nobody.