No One Writes to the Colonel: Analysis of Major Characters
"No One Writes to the Colonel" is a poignant narrative centered around the lives of its major characters, primarily focusing on the colonel, his wife, and the contrasting figures surrounding them. The colonel, a 75-year-old retired military man, embodies dignity and hope despite his extreme poverty and prolonged wait for a pension. His pride and devotion to his deceased son, Agustín, drive him to distribute political literature, reflecting his commitment to a cause greater than himself. His wife serves as his conscience and protector, displaying practicality and warmth, yet is burdened by the memories of their son and her own health struggles.
In stark contrast to the couple's integrity, Don Sabas, Agustín's godfather, represents corruption and greed, thriving on the exploitation of others. Despite his unappealing demeanor, he symbolizes the pervasive moral decay within their community. Additionally, the physician offers a more compassionate perspective, aligning with the subversive movement while providing care without charge, highlighting the camaraderie among those resisting oppression. Together, these characters illustrate the struggles of hope, dignity, and survival within a repressive political landscape.
No One Writes to the Colonel: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Gabriel García Márquez
First published: El coronel no tiene quien le escriba, 1961 (English translation, 1968)
Genre: Novel
Locale: An unnamed village in Colombia
Plot: Ironic
Time: October to December, 1956
The colonel, an extremely poor retiree who has waited fifteen years for his military pension. He is rather anorexic, and the only thing that makes him look like he has not been kept in formaldehyde is the vitality of his eyes. He is extremely careful, respectful, and formal, and his hair is metallic, like his joints. His lack of a name in the novel fits perfectly with his wish to remain anonymous, which to him is a way of keeping his dignity. His pride makes every one of his actions appear transcendental, and thus his meager possessions are displaced by a prizefighting cock whose value is mainly symbolic. The colonel appears flat and unapproachable, but in reality he is a good and decent man totally devoted to his wife and to the memory of his son, an ill-defined subversive. Lacking practical concerns, he still distributes the clandestine political literature for which his son was killed. Liked by most of the townspeople, who know his true state, he lives in a dream world and on hope. He realizes that he is aging—he is seventy-five years old—and that he really does not know his wife, but he keeps living by appearances. To the very end, he feels unbeatable, believing that even though he is starving, his rooster will win and feed him.
The colonel's wife, the colonel's conscience, guide, and subtle protector. She is a practical woman whose asthma attacks do not prevent her from imagining every conceivable means to support her family. Of arched back, she is as slim as her husband, although quite energetic. She is fussy and a stickler for details, even when she turns her house upside down. She is warmer in personality than the colonel. The memory of her son, Agustín, is the only thing that gets her out of her constant nagging. She is a mystery to her husband, even though he easily fathoms her determination not to show any weakness, such as crying.
Don Sabas, Agustín's godfather, a total contrast to the colonel. A corrupt businessman who will syphon money from any source or person without blinking an eye, he is short and un-appealing. Although everyone knows that he is a traitor and has gotten rich through illegal means, they also know that corruption is so widespread that to take on Don Sabas may actually create more political repression. Callous, mean, and obese, he is not above cheating the colonel, his godchild's father. He neurotically tortures his corpulent wife with fears and suspicions.
The physician, who, like others in the town, is part of the subversive movement. A kindly, practical man, he does not harbor illusions about the political situation that represses him and the others. He does not charge the colonel or his wife, and his good sense of humor is exercised mainly at the expense of Don Sabas. Fairly young, he generally fits the stereotypes for doctors, such as having illegible handwriting.