44 pages • 1 hour read
Miguel de UnamunoSaint Emmanuel the Good, Martyr
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1930A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Character Analysis
Don Manuel
Don Manuel, the revered priest of Valverde de Lucerna, embraces the priesthood to support his widowed sister and her children. An intellectual by nature, he opts for a simple life in his childhood village to avoid solitude: He carries a burdensome legacy, grappling with the dark thoughts inherited from his father, who died by suicide. Described by Angela as “tall” and “thin,” Don Manuel’s minimal physical description enhances his portrayal as an ethereal, parable-like figure. He is a symbol of the old order and prioritizes of his parishioners’ happiness despite his desire for death, positioning him as a tragic hero; his martyrdom is to endure life amidst personal disbelief. Through his teachings and actions, Don Manuel propels the novel’s exploration of The Tragedy of Consciousness, The Utility and Morality of Deception, and Saintliness, Legacy, and Mortality. His personality is revealed through irony and juxtaposition—e.g., the contrast between his private doubts and his public role. Don Manuel himself draws attention to the gap, telling Angela that unintentional messages are more revealing than intentional words: “We should bother less with what people want to say than with what they say without meaning to” (59).
The nickname “Bueno” for Don Manuel references Don Quixote, who is also called “Bueno” or “Good.” This parallel highlights the characters’ relationship to deception: Don Quixote cannot endure the world’s deceit, while Don Manuel views deception as a moral choice. Their character arcs diverge significantly: Quixote retreats into unreality to protect himself from the world’s delusions, whereas Manuel’s deception stems from a desire to protect others.
His name, Manuel or “Emmanuel,” means “Christ with us” and is used in the Bible in reference to Jesus. His character arc also parallels and diverges with Jesus Christ’s. While both figures are central to their communities and revered for their wisdom and compassion, Jesus’s sacrifice was dying on the cross, whereas Don Manuel’s life represents a continual sacrifice. His struggle against despair while maintaining a facade for his followers redefines traditional martyrdom.
Angela Carballino
Angela, the novel’s narrator, is a woman from Valverde de Lucerna who has a simple education from a convent school. Although she is perceptive, she doesn’t claim to be insightful or intelligent, and her narration frames her as a secondary figure in the life of the work’s true protagonist—a conduit for Don Manuel’s teachings on faith, life, and morality, much like the apostles were to Jesus. Nevertheless, her own memories and interpretations shape the novel’s depiction of its themes.
Angela is deeply maternal and protective, especially toward Don Manuel, whom she seeks to shield from his own tormenting thoughts. Her compassion and empathy are evident in how she interacts with him, always mindful of the burden he carries. Angela embodies the role of a guardian, much like her name (“angel”) implies. Despite harboring her own doubts, she chooses to conceal them, prioritizing Don Manuel’s peace of mind over her need for truth. Her keen perception allows her to see beyond the surface, understanding that Don Manuel’s avoidance of certain topics is not mere oversight but a sign of his inner turmoil.
Angela’s dedication to Don Manuel and his mission mirrors the devotion of a nun to God, emphasizing her symbolic stature within the narrative. When she discovers his secret, it doesn’t destroy her innocence but confirms her suspicions, deepening her empathy for him.
Lázaro Carballino
Lázaro Carballino is Angela’s older brother, who moves to America to further his education and save money for Angela and their mother. He is a complex, round character who initially represents modernity and secular logic. After coming back from New York, he criticizes village life for promoting ignorance and poverty and wants to uplift Angela and their mother from what he sees as the village’s limitations: “[Living in a village] makes you stupid, rough, and poor” (71). However, Lázaro’s character arc sees him move from a symbol of the “new world” to a guardian of the “old world.”
Initially, Lázaro serves as a foil to Don Manuel, viewing him as a symbol of Spain’s “dark theocracy.” However, Lázaro actually mirrors Don Manuel, and after developing a deeper connection with Don Manuel and learning of the priest’s disbelief, Lázaro transforms from skeptic to successor. Lázaro’s intelligence enables him to see through Don Manuel’s facade, recognizing the priest’s complex relationship with faith: “[H]e’s too intelligent to believe everything he has to teach” (73). This insight emphasizes Lázaro’s role as Don Manuel’s metaphorical Joshua, charged with the task of preserving the community’s faith and happiness, similar to Moses’s request to Joshua in the Bible.
The “conversion” of Lázaro (and his name) evoke the biblical story of Lazarus, whom Jesus resurrects. The parallel emphasizes Lázaro’s transformation from progressivism to advocating for maintaining the villagers’ illusions for their collective well-being. Through Lázaro, the novel explores themes of faith, truth, and the responsibility of leadership, depicting his conversion not to traditional religious beliefs but to a commitment to community harmony, as guided by Don Manuel’s teachings.
Blasillo
Inspired by Unamuno’s own son, who faced learning disabilities and died young, Blasillo is deeply intertwined with Don Manuel, whom he imitates and adores. This imitation and his unconditional love for Don Manuel highlight his role as a foil, enhancing the complexity of Don Manuel’s character by contrasting Blasillo’s unquestioning faith with Don Manuel’s internal struggle. Blasillo’s actions, particularly his repetition of Don Manuel’s cry of “My God, my God! Why hast Thou forsaken me?” without understanding its significance (79), underscore his role as an embodiment of innocent belief, untouched by doubt or existential dread.
Blasillo’s character remains largely static throughout the narrative, embodying the blissfully ignorant and content believer. His tears at Don Manuel’s end signal a shift in his emotional state, yet his essence remains unchanged. This emotional response does not evolve from a deepened understanding but from an instinctual reaction to the suffering of someone he loves. His death alongside Don Manuel symbolizes the profound connection between the community’s faith and Don Manuel’s spiritual guidance. This moment unites the archetype of innocent faith with the tragic hero, illustrating the novel’s exploration of belief, understanding, and the essence of spiritual leadership.
