Los Santos Inocentes: Character Profiles and Analysis
Azarías
Azarías is a man in his sixties who always wears the same clothes: corduroy trousers ending at the knees, with no buttons on his fly, and bare feet. He is Régula’s brother. He previously worked for Mr. Jara but was fired due to his lack of hygiene. He was accustomed to wetting his hands so they wouldn’t crack from the cold. With his toothless mouth, his words sometimes seemed unintelligible, as if he were chewing something. He is a very affectionate person who developed a great affection for the birds he cares for. He believes his nephews’ education is not as important as his sister thinks.
Paco, “El Bajo”
At the beginning of the story, he is the keeper of the farm but eventually becomes the secretary to Master Iván due to his great skill in hunting and for being always obedient and helpful, accepting all orders without complaint. He is Régula’s husband and, therefore, the brother-in-law of Azarías.
Régula
The wife of Paco, “El Bajo”, and sister of Azarías. She is characterized as a strong woman who attempts to seek a better future for her children, more than she can enjoy life herself. Like her husband, she is also obedient and knows that on the farm, it is essential to “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” because belonging to a lower social class means having no voice.
Charito, “La Niña Chica”
She is the older sister of Nieves and Quirce, but only physically, as she was born with a severe disability that prevents her from fending for herself. Although she cannot talk, she often issues frightening screams that give the listener goosebumps. She has a special relationship with Azarías.
Quirce
Son of Paco, “El Bajo”, and Régula. He is a quiet boy but possesses a great talent for helping in the hunt, like his father. He realizes that life on the farm is difficult for his family due to the continuous humiliation they receive, but he is also resigned to it. He served as an assistant to Master Iván in the hunt while his father was ill, but his lack of conversation made Iván want to get rid of him as an assistant.
Nieves
Sister of Quirce and, therefore, daughter of Paco, “El Bajo”, and Régula. She is a quiet and observant 15-year-old girl. She works for the wife of Pedro, the bailiff. Above all, she wants to be able to receive communion, but her family tries to get the idea out of her head because it is not an activity considered appropriate for servants. Like Quirce, she is powerless before what happens to her parents on the farm.
Master Iván
The gentleman of the farm. He has a certain appreciation for Paco because of how well he handles collecting the birds from the hunt, which is why he named him his secretary. He is the target of continual insinuations from Pura, the wife of Pedro, the bailiff. His personality is consistently displayed as selfish and foolish, thinking only of his own welfare and preserving his social standing among his friends.
Pedro, the Bailiff
He belongs to a social class higher than Paco, “El Bajo”, but lower than Master Iván. This is why he almost silently endures his wife Pura’s continued advances toward Master Iván. Throughout the story, he is shown as nervous and unsure. He loves his wife but fails to assert himself, often ending up in tears due to his helplessness.
Pura
The wife of Pedro, the bailiff. She is characterized as young and physically beautiful, a ‘weapon’ she uses to make advances toward Master Iván. She likes to provoke her husband by humming and swaying suggestively because she is not really in love with him.