Jubiabá: Analysis of Major Characters
"Jubiabá: Analysis of Major Characters" explores the rich tapestry of characters in the narrative, focusing on Antônio Balduíno, known as Baldo, whose life journey reflects themes of struggle, love, and resilience. Baldo, a black street-gang leader, navigates various roles from a beggar to a boxer and a strike leader, embodying the complexities of oppression and the pursuit of fame. Central to his story are the relationships he forms, especially with Lindinalva, his white love interest, whose tragic fate profoundly impacts him.
The narrative also highlights Jubiabá, a wise voodoo priest whose community role offers a contrast to Baldo’s tumultuous life, and characters like Old Luísa, his aunt, and Zé Camarão, a capoeira fighter, who serve as influential figures in his development. Other significant characters include Amelia, a Portuguese cook, and Gordo, Baldo's loyal friend, who represent varied perspectives on race and friendship. The analysis delves into the characters’ motivations, relationships, and their reflections on societal issues, including class and identity, making it a poignant exploration of the human experience within a culturally rich setting. This in-depth look invites readers to engage with the character dynamics and the broader social themes they represent.
Jubiabá: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Jorge Amado
First published: 1935 (English translation, 1984)
Genre: Novel
Locale: Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, and environs
Plot: Political
Time: The 1920's and 1930's
Antônio Balduíno, also called Baldo, a black street-gang leader who survives successively as a beggar, singer and songwriter, professional boxer, plantation worker, circus artist, and eventually stevedore and strike leader. Antônio sees work as oppression or another kind of slavery, and from an early age he is determined never to earn money by being employed and to become famous through adventurous exploits and thereby get a ballad—an “ABC” in local parlance—written about himself. A heavy drinker, a fun-loving partygoer, and a womanizer, he is followed in the book from childhood to his mid-twenties. Many women love him, but he truly loves only one in return, a white girl, Lindinalva. She is the daughter of the rich Portuguese man who takes him in as a houseworker when Antônio's aunt (and only living relative) goes crazy. When Lindinalva dies, after asking him to look after her son, he is forced to take a job to support the boy.
Jubiabá, an old voodoo priest of the candomblé or macumba religion, a patriarch to the community on Capa-Negro Hill. He is thought to be one of only two free men there, along with Zé Camarão, and both are persecuted by the police as a result. People come to him for herbal remedies when sick as well as to have him cast spells. He is an important figure for Antônio, both as a friend and as a symbol of wisdom and independence.
Old Luísa, Antônio's aunt, who rears him alone until she goes crazy. A talker and storyteller, she cooks food and sells it downtown every night, with Antônio helping her. She often beats him for fighting and mischief but rarely hurts him, because he dodges the blows easily. She dies at the asylum after going insane when Antônio is still young.
Zé Camarão, a storyteller, singer, and capoeira fighter. This mulatto is an important role model for Antônio, who admires him because he is brave and a good ballad singer. He teaches Antônio the guitar and capoeira fighting.
Amelia, a Portuguese cook who hates Antônio, who has come to work at a rich man's house after the death of his aunt. She beats him often, declaring that black people are subhuman. She precipitates his running away from the house by lying that he has been ogling Lindinalva. Later, however, she takes care of Lindinalva and her son when the family is ruined.
Viriato, a deformed dwarf, part of Antônio's beggar gang and the only one of them who keeps begging into adulthood. Usually sad because he is alone in the world, he is a successful beggar but eventually drowns himself.
Gordo, Antônio's best friend, a very religious boy and man. Gordo meets Antônio when they are begging and accompanies him on most of his journeys thereafter. Often sad, he tells good stories, which always contain angels and demons, and is considered by Antônio to be a very good man. During the strike, he sees a little girl shot dead and afterward goes mad, imploring God to raise her from the dead.
Luigi, an Italian, Antônio's boxing manager and trainer who later hires him for the circus, of which he is part owner. He never understands that Antônio loses a big fight because he heard of Lindinalva's engagement the same day.
Joana, Antônio's girlfriend and a macumba dancer. A jealous woman, she sings Antônio's sambas with a deep, masculine voice. He leaves her for Maria dos Reis.
Maria dos Reis, a virgin whom Antônio pursues even though he knows that she is engaged to a soldier. Antônio injures and disarms the soldier in a fight and takes Maria. Eventually, she leaves Bahia with her godparents.
Rosenda Rosedá, a beautiful black dancer whom Antônio meets at the circus. Although he finds her vain and silly, he likes her, and she has a strong character to match his. Occasionally, he becomes jealous; ultimately, after winning her back from a rival, he abandons her to him.
Lindinalva Pereira, Antônio's lifelong love, the daughter of the Portuguese man who takes him in when his aunt goes mad. She is three years older than he is. Intoxicated by her beauty and personality, he is unjustly accused of ogling her. Later, Lindinalva's fiancé, Gustavo, impregnates and abandons her when the family is ruined. She eventually turns to prostitution and dies after asking Antônio to look after her son.
Gustavo Barreira, Lindinalva's fiancé and the father of Gustavinho. He is an ambitious lawyer who represents the workers in the strike and unsuccessfully attempts to get them to compromise their demands after he himself is made promises of gain from the bosses.
Gustavinho, Lindinalva's baby son by Gustavo, later adopted by Antônio.
Guisepe, an alcoholic and co-owner of the circus with Luigi. Born in Italy, he was part of a great circus there, photographs of which he keeps in his album. One night, his wife, who like him worked as a trapeze artist, fell to her death, and his decline is traced from that event.