Daniel Serrallonga: A Character Analysis and Novel Summary
Daniel Serrallonga: A Character Analysis
History
The novel recounts the life of Daniel Serrallonga from his youth to his early death, focusing on his progressive decline.
Plot
The narrative doesn’t follow a classical plot structure with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Instead, it presents a troubled life through a series of episodes.
Daniel Serrallonga
Daniel Serrallonga is an absent protagonist. He is discussed extensively, but only appears briefly at the beginning and end of the novel. He is described as having a large, domed forehead, short, fuzzy eyebrows, and round eyes. He dresses carelessly, with poor taste in ties, always choosing bright colors and tying them sloppily. He is often alone, with a worried expression, walking quickly and stiffly, frequently wiping sweat from his forehead, neck, and wrists.
Narrator
The narrator is a crucial character. The story is presented from his perspective. He is a lawyer who studied law and is married to Matildeta. His views are significant, offering a humanistic and sentimental perspective on Serrallonga’s condition, contrasting with Giberga’s scientific viewpoint. This contrast forms a central theme of the novel.
Armengol
Armengol, also a law graduate and doctor of law, introduces the reader to Serrallonga’s case through the narrator. He describes Serrallonga’s life in a cold and mocking tone. He is portrayed as cruel to his friend, mocking and ridiculing him. His view of Daniel Serrallonga’s condition is neither scientific nor humanistic but humorously cruel, highlighting the insensitivity of people at the time.
Giberga Prospero
Giberga Prospero, the son of Daniel’s doctor, provides a realistic and scientific perspective on Serrallonga’s illness. This view contrasts with the other characters, creating tension in the novel. Giberga introduces the theory of biological inheritance, noting that one of Serrallonga’s sisters is epileptic, the other is nymphomaniac, and their father was mentally unstable. He defends the scientific viewpoint, arguing that mental problems are genetically transmitted.
Secondary Characters
Serrallonga Ignacio’s Father
Daniel Serrallonga’s father committed suicide. The doctor attributed it to madness. Giberga explains that he neglected his responsibilities to pursue politics and questioned the paternity of his children.
Adela and Carolina (Sisters)
Adela is described as a “devil in skirts,” and Carolina is described as “worse than her sister” and “hunchbacked in body and soul.” They are presented negatively, supporting Giberga’s theory of family heritage.
Setting
The novel primarily takes place in enclosed spaces, such as the Café de las Delicias, where the narrator meets Serrallonga, and the Serrallonga family home in Vilaniu. Some scenes occur in the street.
Point of View
The narrative is from an observer’s perspective. The narrator explains what he sees and feels but doesn’t actively participate in the story. It also incorporates a collective point of view, as the narrator recounts information from friends. For example, the situation of Giberga Serrallonga’s father before he died is explained through dialogue.