The Apple in the Dark: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Apple in the Dark" is a novel that delves into the psychological and emotional journeys of its major characters, primarily centered around Martim, Vitória, and Ermelinda. Martim, a middle-aged statistician from São Paulo, grapples with guilt and identity after believing he has killed his wife in a fit of jealousy. Seeking refuge, he finds himself on a remote farm owned by Vitória, a resilient woman in her fifties who inherits the land after a lifetime of familial obligations. As Martim navigates his inner turmoil, he forms a complex relationship with both Vitória and her cousin Ermelinda, a young widow who embodies a more carefree and spiritual disposition.
Vitória's character contrasts sharply with Ermelinda’s, as she is practical and driven, facing her fears of love and vulnerability head-on. In contrast, Ermelinda's dreamy nature reflects her struggles with past trauma, leading her to fleeting romantic entanglements. The narrative largely unfolds within Martim's mind, exploring themes of self-discovery and the impact of societal expectations, personified by a professor who ultimately serves as a catalyst for Martim's confrontation with his reality. This rich character analysis invites readers to reflect on the complexities of human relationships and the search for redemption.
The Apple in the Dark: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Clarice Lispector
First published: A maçã no Escuro, 1961 (English translation, 1967)
Genre: Novel
Locale: A remote farming region of Brazil
Plot: Didactic
Time: The late 1950's
Martim (mahr-TEEM), a middle-aged statistician from São Paulo. A heavyset, blue-eyed man, he is in hiding because he believes that he killed his wife in a jealous rage. He hides out for two weeks in a hotel in central Brazil that is occupied only by a German and a servant. When he thinks they have gone to report his presence to the police, he flees overland and finds a job doing manual labor on a small farm in exchange for board and room. He spends a long time on the farm, which is owned and run by Vitória. He is involved for a while with Ermelinda, Vitória's younger cousin. Most of the action takes place in Martim's mind, as he tries to understand who he is and how he relates to his circumstances.
Vitória (vee-TOHR-ee-ah), a tough woman in her fifties who inherited a farm from an aunt and uncle whom she had visited in childhood. She spent her youth caring for her father, and only after his death has she been free to choose to move out to the country and run the farm herself. The farm is an isolated one, and until Martim appears, Vitória has lived with only the company of her cousin Ermelinda, Francisco the hired man, and a female mulatto cook and her small daughter. Attracted to Martim, Vitória is impelled to explain her life to him and, in the process, come to a better understanding of herself. At first, she is afraid of living and of being loved.
Ermelinda (ehr-meh-LEEN-dah), a young woman from Rio de Janeiro who has come to live on her cousin Vitória's farm after being widowed three years before Martim appears. Her sensuous indolence and vague spiritualism are attributed to her bedridden childhood and consequent overindulgence. Ermelinda falls in love with Martim, is sexually involved with him for a time, then falls out of love and distances herself from him again. Opposite in personality from her cousin Vitória, who works hard on the farm and continually barks out orders to Martim and Francisco, Ermelinda drifts about eating candied almonds. She is sentimental and idle, and she believes in her vague presentiments about the future.
The professor, who arranges for the authorities to pick up Martim. He is a surrogate for society as a whole, and he brings the willing martyr back to reality.