Delibes' Characters: A Deep Dive into Social Conflict

Delibes excels in portraying innocent and novelistic characters. The novel focuses heavily on character development, dedicating a significant portion of the text to depicting human figures.

Character Groups

The characters can be divided into three main groups:

Foreground Characters:

This group includes Azarias, the protagonist, and Master Ivan, who serves as the antagonist. Paco and Bass also play important roles, representing the humble and participating in the central intrigue.

Background Characters:

This group consists of Paco's family (Low, Xica, Quirce, Rogelio, and Snow) and Master Ivan's family (Mrs. Markesa and Miss Miriam), along with members of the household (Don Pedro, the expert, and Dona Purita).

Minor Characters:

This group includes servants, Master of Rockrose, invited guests, Manolo the physician, the Hashemite magician Almendral, and educators.

Character Conflict

The conflict arises from the opposition between two distinct character types:

Simple Characters:

These characters are pure and maintain positive feelings of friendship, affection, and respect for those less fortunate. They are natural, uneducated, and have learned from the world. Examples include Azarias, Paco, Bass, and their families, as well as other humble farm servants.

Vain Characters:

These characters stand out socially and exhibit qualities they often lack. They display selfish, arrogant, and dehumanizing attitudes towards those around them. Examples include Master Ivan, Mrs. Markesa, guests, and Master of the Jara.

Social Injustice

The confrontation between these two types highlights social injustice. The vain characters act as owners, while the simple characters, due to resignation or ignorance, remain in servitude. Miguel Delibes seems to divide the world into good and evil, with oppressed characters embodying goodness and oppressors embodying evil.

Complex Characters

However, the opposition is somewhat softened by the inclusion of more complex characters:

• Don Pedro, the expert, embodies both oppressor and oppressed qualities.
• Miss Miriam, despite belonging to the wealthy, shows some social awareness. René, a Frenchman, acts similarly.
• Quirce demonstrates a willingness to break free from her family's submissive status, neither flattering nor accepting alms from Master Ivan.