Customer Reviews

The Good Conscience

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The Good Conscience is about a young man who grows up in Guanajuato, Mexico. He is raised by his uncle and aunt, who are unable to have children of their own. His uncle is a wealthy but very selfish man, who loves only himself and his high social standing. The boy is encouraged to conform in every way to the family's expectations. The uncle, aunt, and others insist that the boy be religious, but when he takes a strong interest in Christlike behavior, his uncle admonishes him. When the main character becomes friends with a poor, dark-skinned boy, his uncle and aunt criticise him for hanging out with people of no standing. As the young man's childhood is coming to an end, his Indian friend moves away to seek work. Then the boy must decide for himself whether he is to be like the hypocritical adults, or live his life with integrity.

This is an excellent novel written by Carlos Fuentes that describes a struggle between self-integrity and self-interest.