Cousin Bazilio: Analysis of Major Characters
"Cousin Bazilio" is a novel that explores the complexities of love, infidelity, and societal expectations through its major characters. Luiza, the beautiful wife of Jorge, engages in a clandestine affair with her cousin Bazilio during Jorge's absence. This relationship brings Luiza intense emotional turmoil as she grapples with her feelings of love, guilt, and ultimately, despair. Jorge, characterized as a devoted yet conventional husband, becomes consumed by jealousy upon learning of Luiza's potential unfaithfulness. Bazilio, the charming and manipulative cousin, orchestrates their affair but shows little regard for the consequences of his actions.
The role of Juliana, Luiza's bitter and manipulative maid, adds tension to the narrative as she seeks to exploit Luiza's situation for financial gain. Other supporting characters, such as Sebastian, Jorge's loyal friend, and Leopoldina, Luiza's friend with a questionable reputation, enrich the story by highlighting the social norms and personal struggles within the relationships. The novel ultimately examines themes of desire, betrayal, and societal judgment, leading to tragic outcomes that reflect the character's internal conflicts and the constraints imposed by their environment.
Cousin Bazilio: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: José Maria de Eça de Queiróz
First published: O primo Basilio, 1878 (Dragon's Teeth, 1889; better known as Cousin Bazilio)
Genre: Novel
Locale: Lisbon, Portugal
Plot: Satire
Time: The 1870's
Luiza (lew-EE-sah), the blonde, beautiful wife of Jorge. During Jorge's prolonged absence, she has an affair with her cousin Bazilio. When she discovers that her maid has stolen some of their love notes and letters, she wants to escape to Paris with him. She refuses at first to accept money from Bazilio to pay off Juliana. To keep Juliana from revealing her secret, Luiza grants Juliana her every wish, even to the point of doing her work for her. Luiza's love for Bazilio turns to hate, and she longs for Jorge's return. The strains of hiding her affair and dealing with Juliana's constant demands break her health. In desperation, she writes to Bazilio to send her money so she can extricate herself from the intolerable situation. Before she receives a reply from him, however, Jorge returns. After Luiza recovers from a long illness precipitated by Juliana's death, Jorge confronts her with Bazilio's reply to her letter, causing her sudden relapse and death from brain fever.
Jorge (HOHR-heh), Luiza's devoted and rather conventional husband, a government mining engineer. He has accepted an extended assignment in the Alentejo, a mining region in southern Portugal. After his return, Juliana's behavior infuriates him, and he wants Luiza to fire her. He is consumed with jealousy when he intercepts Bazilio's letter to Luiza and realizes that she might have been unfaithful to him. He nurses her back to health from one fever, only to cause her final collapse by demanding an explanation for the contents of Bazilio's letter.
Bazilio de Brito (bah-SEE-lee-oh deh BREE-toh), Luiza's wealthy, handsome, and worldly cousin. He carefully orchestrates Luiza's seduction and rents a seedy room for their rendezvous. When Luiza threatens to end their affair because he has become inconsiderate and indifferent, he cynically introduces her to new sexual sensations to change her mind. He contrives to leave the country immediately after Luiza runs to him with the news of Juliana's knowledge of their romance. His answer to her written request for hush money is intercepted by Jorge. Upon his return to Lisbon, he hopes to resume his liaison with Luiza. The news of her death, however, does not grieve him. He only regrets that his current mistress has not accompanied him to Lisbon.
Juliana Conceiro Tavira (hew-lee-AH-nah kohn-SA-roh tah-VEE-rah), Luiza's ugly, ailing, bitter, and manipulative maid. She steals incriminating notes and letters from Luiza in the hope of extorting enough money from her for a comfortable retirement. The prospect of extracting a large sum is dashed by Bazilio's departure, so she elects to demand favors of Luiza. After Luiza has given her everything she wants, Juliana refuses to work. When Jorge demands that she be fired, she forces Luiza to fire Joanna, the cook, instead. Enraged by Sebastian forcing her to surrender Luiza's letters, she dies of a heart attack.
Sebastian, Jorge's best friend from childhood. He suspects Luiza's romance with Bazilio. When Luiza requests that he deal with Juliana for her, he retrieves the stolen letters and never betrays Luiza's trust in him.
Leopoldina (leh-oh-pohl-DEE-nah), Luiza's unhappily married school friend. Jorge has forbidden Luiza to see her because of her bad reputation. She fascinates Luiza with tales about her many lovers.
Ernestinho Ledesma (ehr-nehs-TEEN-oh leh-DEHS-mah), a playwright and cousin of Jorge. In the original version of his successful play about adultery, the wife is killed by the offended husband. When Ernestinho complains about being forced to change the ending so that the unfaithful wife is forgiven, Jorge insists vehemently that an unfaithful wife should be killed.
Juliao Zuzarte (hew-lee-OW sew-ZAHR-teh), a dour physician friend of Jorge. He attends Luiza in her final illness.
Joanna, Luiza's loyal cook. She returns to serve Luiza after Juliana's death.
Felicidade de Noronha (feh-LEE-see-dahd deh nohr-OHNah), a buxom, heavyset lady who is a friend of Jorge and Luiza. She has never married, although her infatuation with Councilor Accacio has never diminished.
Councilor Accacio (ah-KAH-see-oh), an old-fashioned, dignified bachelor and a friend of Jorge's father.