[34] con el monosílabo, by a monosyllabic remark.
[35] introdujo una revolución social, i.e., the internal revolution that followed immediately upon the heels of the struggle for independence.
[36] por esto, on this account.
[37] vecindarios. This word means both district or ward of a town, and vicinity; hence the statement that follows.
[38] si es que, i.e., si es verdad que.
[39] a la altura... se nutren, on a par with the social milieu in which they are born and grow.
[40] Eso sí, Of course, Most assuredly.
[41] Tomaba partido... y por pasión, He took sides, guided by his personal sentiments and emotions.
[42] a su modo, peculiar to himself.
[43] por escapar, lit., for the sake of escaping; translate as if it were para escapar. There is very little difference between por and para when followed by an infinitive: para is by far the commoner preposition used.