Rinconete and Cortadillo: Life in Seville’s Underworld
Main Characters
Pedro del Rincon (Rinconete)
A young boy, aged between fourteen and fifteen. He is dressed in a cap, green canvas pants, and well-worn sandals. He also carries a half sword and a deck of cards. He is very clever at playing cards and scamming people with tips for living well. He teaches Cortado to play. Born in a village called Fuenfrida, he was banished from his homeland and decided to fend for himself. Throughout history, he attempts to find a good job but eventually joins the thieves’ guild. Rinconete is very friendly with Cortadillo, whom he met in a sale of the mill (Alcudia).
Diego Cortado (Cortadillo)
Like Rinconete, he is about 15 years old. He wears a low, wide-brimmed hat, a colored shirt, and canvas pants. He also carries a knife and scissors, which he uses to cut bags and pockets, stealing what’s inside. Born in a place near Salamanca, his father was a tailor who taught him the trade. As the village where he lived was very quiet, he decided to go see the world. He meets Rinconete in a sale of the mill (Alcudia).
Monipodio
The head of the thieves’ guild. He organizes the work to be pursued by the members of this fraternity and hides it, but always leaving some of the stolen goods for virgins and saints.
Other Characters
- Pipota: An old woman who belongs to the guild. Her job is concealing, and she is responsible for putting candles to the saints and the Novena on behalf of other members.
- Horseman: A carrier that was scammed by Rinconete and Cortadillo playing cards.
- Gancho: A boy who introduces Rinconete and Cortadillo to Monipodio and the guild.
- Chiquiznaque and Maniferro: Two bandits in Monipodio’s guild.
- Juliana and La Escalanta: Prostitutes who are in the courtyard of the guild.
The Brotherhood
It is presented as organized crime: a school of social crime and human degradation, where there are some laws passed by all members, which are nothing more than thieves, prostitutes, and thugs. The Guild is governed by Monipodio, who has a powerful figure and is respected by all. The guild is a perfectly nested and ironic representation of a company. All thieves must register, pass a preliminary examination, and adhere to their own hierarchies, codes, and monitoring. They represent the religious superficiality of the population. Monipodio’s organization has all the resources for their protection: obedience and loyalty to the brotherhood, social conventions, “religious” habits, corrupt police, and sentries to alert them of any unforeseen events.
Ending
After other minor setbacks, such as those involving Juliana and Repolido, Monipodio teaches the two new brothers the tasks performed by each member of the congregation and gives them the place where they have to go steal. They agreed that they would meet again that Sunday. Rinconete and Cortadillo left, reflecting on all they had witnessed: the cultural distortion, the degradation of religious practices, the strange administrative and financial corruption of Monipodio, and the justice of Seville.
The Fight
Relipodio and Cariharta fight because she hit him with sticks in an olive grove because he did not want to have sex with her. She goes to the guild to defend herself, eventually forcing them to forgive Monipodio, and they end up singing.