Faustino by Max Martínez
"Faustino" by Max Martínez is a narrative exploring the life of Faustino, a native-born American citizen of Mexican descent, who exists within the segregated socio-economic landscape of Texas. Residing with his family on the land owned by his employer, Buster Crane, Faustino's life reflects the enduring feudal-like relationship between Anglo Americans and Chicanos in the region. The story delves into a pivotal encounter where Faustino is tempted by Mrs. Crane, Buster’s wife, who employs sexual advances to lure him.
Faustino experiences a profound internal conflict between his desires and the societal taboos that dictate relationships across cultural boundaries. His fear of the consequences of succumbing to temptation ultimately leads him to flee from the situation, returning home where he struggles to connect with his own wife, Maria. This interaction escalates into conflict and violence, illustrating the complex interplay of desire, guilt, and societal pressures. The narrative captures themes of identity, cultural tension, and the painful realities faced by marginalized individuals in a divided society.
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Faustino by Max Martínez
First published: 1977
Type of plot: Social realism
Time of work: The mid-twentieth century
Locale: South Texas
Principal Characters:
Faustino , an uneducated Mexican American farmworkerMaria , his patient, devoted wifeBuster Crane , his employerMrs. Crane , Buster's sex-starved wife
The Story
A native-born American citizen of Mexican ancestry, Faustino belongs to a segregated minority within Texas's dominant Anglo American culture. He lives with his wife and children in a shack on land belonging to his employer, Buster Crane. Born on this ranch, he cannot imagine any other world or any other life. This is typical of the feudal relationship that has existed between Anglos and Chicanos for generations.
One day Faustino is sent to get a wrench in the toolshed adjacent to Buster's house. Buster's young wife is outside, hanging clothes to dry. Quite deliberately, she tries to arouse Faustino with exaggerated movements that accentuate her breasts, legs, and buttocks. Faustino understands what Mrs. Crane is doing and is indeed sexually aroused.
At the same time he feels guilty at the thought of committing adultery with his employer's wife, as well as terror at the thought of the possible consequences. He realizes that involvement with such a woman would ultimately lead to exposure and his eviction from the ranch—if not his own death at the hands of an outraged employer. Although an unspoken caste system in South Texas makes it taboo for Chicano men to have sexual relations with Anglo women, Anglo men can freely have sexual relations with Chicanas.
Mrs. Crane lures Faustino to her kitchen by asking him to empty a big can that collects leaking sink water. Once he is inside, she rubs against him, fondles his genitals, and removes all of her clothes. Faustino is torn between desire and fear, but the latter is stronger, so he flees, leaving behind his boss's wrench.
Instead of returning to Buster and his foreman, who are still waiting for the wrench in the field, Faustino goes home intent on having sex with his own wife. Although accustomed to obeying her husband, Maria cannot respond satisfactorily to Faustino's sexual demands and is alarmed and confused by his strange behavior. They argue, and he beats her. Leaving his long-suffering wife in tears, he drives off to meet his employer. Along the way, he stops to masturbate in order to relieve his sexual tension. He is still thinking about Buster's young wife, who simultaneously attracts and revolts him. Unable to remember what happened to the wrench, he decides to say that he could not find it.
Faustino is not surprised at Buster's angry outburst. Buster correctly suspects that Faustino has taken so long on his errand because he stopped to have sex with Maria—but he can hardly imagine the complex circumstances involved. When Faustino lies that he could not find the wrench, Buster shows him the tool and explains that he fetched it himself. His wife told him she had it in the kitchen because she was trying to fix the leaky drainpipe. Buster now orders Faustino to go back and empty the tub of water for Mrs. Crane, explaining, "My wife will show you what to do."