Laura, a young American lady in the 1920s, is the main character of Katherine Anne Porter’s Flowering Judas. Laura, who is just 22 years old, came to Mexico to promote socialism during the Mexican Revolution. She battles the discrepancy between her goals and reality, though, and her existence is full of inconsistencies. The narrative emphasizes her sense of shame, dread of betrayal, and emotional distance.

Laura and Braggioni

After a long day, Laura returns home at the start of the story. Braggioni, her benefactor, is waiting for her at her home. Braggioni, a former revolutionary, now leads an opulent lifestyle. He frequently spends his evenings in Laura’s room, strumming his guitar and singing off-key tunes. Laura feels disgusted by him, but she listens respectfully. Laura must put up with him because he covers her lodging and board.

Braggioni is cynical and self-indulgent. He displays no genuine interest in assisting the people he previously battled for, flaunts his authority, and dresses expensively. His actions now stand in stark contrast to the principles he professed to uphold during the revolution. Laura respectfully declines his persistent attempts at seduction. Braggioni believes that he is irresistible despite his conceit and coarse demeanor.

Laura, however, worries that she might end up becoming as cynical and self-centered as dad is. Because she depends on Braggioni to survive in Mexico, she feels stuck even though she views him as a symbol of everything she hates.

Laura’s Daily Life

As a schoolteacher for Native children, Laura has a hectic existence. She also smuggles drugs, cigarettes, and letters to political detainees. Laura feels cut off from the people around her, despite her work for the socialist cause. She prays in secret in a Catholic church out of concern that her fellows would not approve if they found out. Her internal conflict is highlighted by the contradiction between her political ideals and her religious devotion.

Laura conceals her difficulties while projecting a calm exterior. She describes herself as “not at home in the world,” feeling alone and alienated. She frequently feels out of place because of her idealism and finds it difficult to relate to others who share her political goals.

Encounters with Other Men

There are other men that are smitten with Laura besides Braggioni. Although she already knows how to ride a horse, a former Zapatista soldier tries to teach her on a visit to the adjacent town of Cuernavaca. His attempts scare the horse, which makes things more chaotic than beneficial.

A young, impoverished minstrel who performs every evening outside Laura’s home is another admirer. Laura’s maid Lupe informs her that the youngster will leave if she throws flowers from the Judas tree at him. Although Laura heeds the counsel, the action simply serves to boost his confidence. Even though Laura doesn’t actively pursue romantic relationships, this instance demonstrates how she inadvertently leads others on.

Braggioni’s Manipulations

Braggioni takes pleasure in his position of authority and uses people to further his own agenda. By pitting two political agitators against one another, he stokes their rivalry—one is Polish, the other is Romanian. He displays his silver ammunition belt as a sign of his power and boasts to Laura about how smart he is.

Laura’s optimism is ridiculed by Braggioni, who tells her that everything in life ends in disappointment. He seems to take pleasure in casting doubt on her convictions and implying that her efforts will be in vain. But despite her doubts about the efficacy of her activities, Laura is adamant about upholding her moral principles.

Mrs. Braggioni’s Suffering

Mrs. Braggioni, Braggioni’s wife, offers an additional viewpoint on his personality. She is a dedicated woman who marches in picket lines and defends workers’ rights. Despite her resilience, Braggioni’s infidelity and conceit bring her a great deal of suffering. Mrs. Braggioni exhibits a complicated blend of vulnerability and resilience as she continues to support her husband’s career while spending her evenings in tears.

As Laura watches Mrs. Braggioni, she questions whether she will eventually compromise and lose her principles.

Eugenio’s Death

One of Laura’s most eerie encounters is with Eugenio, a political prisoner. In the hopes that they might lessen his agony or enable him live until Braggioni could negotiate his release, Laura had smuggled medicines to him while he was incarcerated. Eugenio, however, overdoses and dies after taking all the tablets at once.

Laura feels a great deal of guilt after Eugenio dies. Despite her desire to assist him, she feels accountable for his decision. For Laura, Eugenio is a symbol of the ideals and purity she has been seeking, and his passing signifies that her mission in Mexico was unsuccessful.

When Laura tells Braggioni about Eugenio, he calls him an idiot and brushes the prisoner’s death aside. Laura becomes even more disenchanted with those around her as a result of Braggioni’s lack of empathy.

The Dream of Betrayal

Laura’s dream serves as the story’s climax. She had a dream about Eugenio’s ghost that night. In the dream, Eugenio claims he has come to kill her and accuses her of murder. Declaring that the Judas tree’s blossoms represent his body and blood, he orders her to consume them. Laura’s internal conflict is reflected in this unsettling visual, which blends themes of sacrifice, shame, and betrayal.

Laura awakens shaking and terrified. She feels shaken by the dream and is too scared to sleep again. Laura’s future remains uncertain as the drama comes to a close on this tense and frightening note.