Daniel Serrallonga’s Madness in a Novel
Daniel Serrallonga: A Character Study
Main Characters
Daniel Serrallonga: The protagonist around whom the novel revolves, and whose descent into madness is central to the story.
Narrator: We do not know his name or age. We learn about him through the limited information provided by other characters. He was a student and subsequently a law apprentice. He is married to Matildeta and has children. His primary function is to relay information from others.
Armengol: A friend of both the narrator and the protagonist. We do not know much about his personal life. He was also a law apprentice. He serves to provide his perspective on events, which is transmitted to us through the narrator.
Giberga: The son of Daniel and the father of the doctor. He is somewhat of a “gossip,” seeming to know everything and is convinced that Serrallonga is insane. He is very cold in his comments about him.
Secondary Characters
Don Ignacio Serrallonga: Daniel Serrallonga’s father, who committed suicide. The doctor suggests this event is the root of Daniel’s madness. Giberga reveals that he abandoned his responsibilities to pursue politics and that many of the debts attributed to his daughters are actually his.
Adela and Carolina: Daniel Serrallonga’s sisters. Adela is described as a “devil in a skirt” and is perceived as very attractive and sexy by the narrator. Carolina is described as a “hunchback” and is said to be worse than Adela. Both sisters take their brother to court over their father’s will.
Novel Structure
The novel comprises nine chapters, divided into three stages:
- Exposition (Chapters 1-3): Explains the protagonist’s background, introduces Serrallonga, and details Serrallonga’s time in prison.
- Rising Action (Chapters 4-6): Details Daniel’s deteriorating mental state, including his illness, his insults towards the doctor, and his refusal to leave his home.
- Climax and Resolution (Chapters 7-9): Describes the aftermath of a six-year gap where nothing is known about Daniel. It covers his legal battles with his sisters over their father’s will, his admission to the insane asylum in Horta, and ultimately, his death.
Setting
Most of the novel takes place in enclosed spaces:
- The Delights Cafe, where the narrator meets Serrallonga.
- The Swiss Cafe, where they discuss the death of Daniel’s father, and Giberga explains that he committed suicide.
- Serrallonga’s home in Vilaniu, where the narrator meets Adela.
However, there are also moments when characters are on the street, and conversations occur there.