74 pages • 2 hours read
Joaquim Maria Machado de AssisDom Casmurro
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1899A 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
Bento Santiago
Bento Santiago is the first-person, unreliable narrator and protagonist of Dom Casmurro. In Bento’s adolescent years, the struggle for individuality against the predetermined path set by his mother becomes a defining theme. Bento grapples with these familial and societal expectations and yearns for freedom, wanting to pursue a romantic relationship with Capitú instead of entering the priesthood.
As Bento transitions into adulthood, a shift occurs in his orientation. The rebellious spirit of his childhood wanes as he undertakes the compromises and responsibilities of adulthood. Once the subject of his family’s aspirations, he transforms into the patriarch, embracing conventional life and succumbing to societal norms, including exerting control over his wife, Capitú. He spends many years closely intertwined with Escobar and Sancha, his closest friends, before Escobar’s sudden death shatters his domestic world.
Bento’s jealousy emerges as a driving force in his life, shaping his interactions with Capitú and forming one of the narrative’s main themes, The Torments of Jealousy. From youth to old age, jealousy colors his perceptions, leading to a distorted view of reality. His treatment of Capitú is marked by suspicion and unforgiving judgment, contrasting sharply with the leniency he grants himself over his own moral shortcomings. He ultimately destroys his marriage and family by refusing to believe Capitú’s protestations of innocence, sending both her and their son Ezekiel to live abroad and rejecting all overtures for a reconciliation.
His judgmental nature extends beyond his relationship with Capitú to those around him. Both in Chapter 21, “Cousin Justina,” and Chapter 118, “The Hands of Sancha,” his delusion becomes evident as he interprets simple exchanges of looks and gestures as proof of a woman’s desire for him. This distorted perception highlights the extent of Bento’s self-importance, leading him to misinterpret the intentions of those in his social orbit and reinforcing the overarching theme of his narrative unreliability.
In his later years, Bento’s character takes a nostalgic turn, as he becomes enamored with the traditions of the past and yearns for bygone days. He lives in a replica of his childhood home but is reclusive and anti-social in his conduct, shunning close connections with others. In his isolation, Bento’s jealousy has finally succeeded in destroying the happy life he once had.
Capitú
Capitú, Bento’s childhood friend and later wife, is a central character in the novel. She is depicted as a curious, intelligent, and determined woman. From the onset of her relationship with Bento, Capitú emerges as a proactive force, devising plans to free him from the seminary and employing strategies involving deceit and manipulation. Determined to marry Bento, she orchestrates an alliance with Dona Glória to win over her future mother-in-law.
Despite her intelligence and determination, suspicions about her character arise, with José Dias insinuating hidden motives behind her actions. She is often labeled as manipulative and dangerous, and her gaze becomes a recurring motif to symbolize this (See: Symbols & Motifs). José Dias describes her as having eyes that are “oblique and sly” (48, emphasis added), while Bento later compares her eyes to the ocean tide, suggesting depth and mystery beneath her surface.
Post-marriage, Capitú undergoes a notable transformation from her once determined and extroverted personality, with her spirited defiance being muted. She takes on a caring, motherly role, particularly after their son Ezekiel is born. Bento’s increasing control, fueled by his fierce jealousy, cows her into trying to mollify him. As his suspicions intensify, Capitú adapts her behavior to conform to Bento’s expectations, at times admitting to lying to appease him or to avoid confrontation. After Bento convinces himself of her adultery, Capitú faces a dire fate, abandoned and exiled, ultimately dying while in Europe.
To Bento, Capitú remains an enigmatic figure, embodying both passion and suspicion. His portrayal of her is biased, as he wholeheartedly believes in her infidelity, but the true nature of her actions and intentions is undetermined, as Bento’s authoritative voice dominates the narrative. Although the novel does not conclusively prove her alleged infidelity, the lingering doubt and suspicion surrounding Capitú define her legacy as an adulteress in Bento’s perspective, while her own protestations of innocence and the lack of evidence suggests that Bento may have falsely accused her.
Escobar
Escobar is Bento’s closest friend, and their relationship is central to the novel’s exploration of trust and betrayal. Their friendship begins at the seminary, quickly evolving into a deep connection that endures into adulthood.
Welcomed by Bento’s family, Escobar’s affable character is appreciated by all except Cousin Justina, who notes his “policeman’s eyes” (162), highlighting his keen and observant nature. The dual interpretation, with other relatives seeing Escobar as naturally curious and Cousin Justina fostering suspicion, introduces tension into his depiction, as Cousin Justina’s more critical view of Escobar parallels her and José Dias’s suggestive comments about Capitú.
As adults, the connection between the two couples—Escobar and Sancha and Bento and Capitú—deepens into a familial bond. Raising their children side-by- side, Bento names his son Ezekiel in honor of Escobar. From infancy, Ezekiel’s unsettling resemblance to Escobar is noticed, extending beyond physical traits to mannerisms and gestures.
Despite rumors of Escobar’s extramarital affairs, his marriage with Sancha remains harmonious until his sudden death by drowning. His death marks a turning point in the story. Posthumously, Escobar transforms from Bento’s dear friend into an unexpected adversary, casting a shadow over Bento’s life as Bento becomes convinced that Capitú had an affair with him.
Sancha
Sancha, Capitú’s childhood friend, is the daughter of a merchant family. Her camaraderie with Capitú persists into adulthood, as Sancha marries Bento’s friend, Escobar. The two couples form a tight-knit social unit, sharing numerous dinners and collectively navigating the joys and challenges of parenthood. Sancha names her daughter Capitolina, which mirrors the naming of Ezekiel in honor of Escobar.
During one of their gatherings, Bento feels tempted as he notices Sancha meeting his gaze. During the farewell, she presses Bento’s hand, which he interprets as a sign of sexual interest. Sancha’s perspective on this incident remains undisclosed, even though Bento ultimately believes she wished to have an affair with him.
Despite rumors of Escobar’s infidelity, Sancha’s marriage continues harmoniously until Escobar’s death. Overwhelmed by sorrow at the funeral, Sancha relocates to Paraná, seeking solace with her family in a distant state.
Ezekiel
Ezekiel is Bento and Capitú’s only child. From a young age, his inclination toward contemplation and persuasion, coupled with a love for music, mirrors Capitú’s own childhood demeanor. However, Bento’s observations of Ezekiel’s early habit of imitating others, especially the late Escobar, becomes a source of concern for him.
As Ezekiel matures, his physical resemblance to Escobar intensifies, heightening Bento’s suspicions of Capitú’s infidelity. In response, Bento sends Ezekiel to a boarding school and becomes a distant and cold father. In a jealous rage, he even considers poisoning Ezekiel, thinking better of it at the last moment. Later, when Bento separates from Capitú, he leaves Ezekiel in her custody in Switzerland, having lost all interest in preserving his family.
At university, Ezekiel immerses himself in archaeology. Returning from Europe, he visits his father’s house, seeking support for a future archaeological expedition. During this encounter, Bento experiences profound discomfort in Ezekiel’s presence, although he never discloses the alleged adultery to him. During the expedition, Ezekiel contracts typhoid fever and dies. Bento does not mourn him, still persuaded that he was not his son.
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