Archetypes
Daniel - The Reluctant Hero
Daniel is a reluctant hero and does not always act heroically. He is the protagonist of the novel and wants to solve the mystery behind the bunt books, however he has many fears and is quite flawed. He allows Fermin to get beat up by Fumero and does not fight back to help, but instead is left watching. This is obviously not the most heroic thing to do and shows how he is reluctant to act heroically. One of his flaws include his tendency to judge too quickly. An example is Nuria Monfort, he misjudged her and his assumptions and carelessness caused her death. Finally, he does commit a heroic act when he jumps in the way of a bullet to save Julian's life and gets shot in his place.
Daniel is a reluctant hero and does not always act heroically. He is the protagonist of the novel and wants to solve the mystery behind the bunt books, however he has many fears and is quite flawed. He allows Fermin to get beat up by Fumero and does not fight back to help, but instead is left watching. This is obviously not the most heroic thing to do and shows how he is reluctant to act heroically. One of his flaws include his tendency to judge too quickly. An example is Nuria Monfort, he misjudged her and his assumptions and carelessness caused her death. Finally, he does commit a heroic act when he jumps in the way of a bullet to save Julian's life and gets shot in his place.
Fermin - The Sage and The Fool
Fermin is the archetypal sage. He offers guidance and knowledge to Daniel, and helps him in his quest numerous times throughout the novel. The guidance varies from Daniel's love life to the mystery which Daniel is trying to solve.
He is also the archetypal fool. He satirizes and shows the foolishness of society constantly throughout the novel. A prime example is his view on television.
"Television, my dear Daniel, is the Antichrist, and I can assure you that after only three or four generations, people will no longer even know how to fart on their own and humans will return to living in caves, to medieval savagery, and to the general state of imbecility that slugs overcame back in the Pleistocene era. Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke of everything, and lousy joke at that"(106-107)
Fermin is the archetypal sage. He offers guidance and knowledge to Daniel, and helps him in his quest numerous times throughout the novel. The guidance varies from Daniel's love life to the mystery which Daniel is trying to solve.
He is also the archetypal fool. He satirizes and shows the foolishness of society constantly throughout the novel. A prime example is his view on television.
"Television, my dear Daniel, is the Antichrist, and I can assure you that after only three or four generations, people will no longer even know how to fart on their own and humans will return to living in caves, to medieval savagery, and to the general state of imbecility that slugs overcame back in the Pleistocene era. Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke of everything, and lousy joke at that"(106-107)
Julian- Mentor and A Tragic Hero
Julian's story parallels that of Daniel's as they both encounter similar circumstances(ie. their love life) and make similar mistakes. However, Julian is also the archetypal mentor for Daniel, because he chooses to help Daniel and makes sure that Daniel does not make all the same mistakes that he did. He sees himself in Daniel and wants to help him achieve a happy life that he was unable to. He helps Daniel realize that he must approach Beatrice's father, and by doing so allows Daniel to live a happy life with Beatrice.
He is also the tragic hero to some extent. His mistake of pursuing a secret relationship with Penelope, leads to him losing almost everything because of circumstances that weren't his fault. He loses both Penelope and his child and burns all of his books when he realizes that they are dead.
Julian's story parallels that of Daniel's as they both encounter similar circumstances(ie. their love life) and make similar mistakes. However, Julian is also the archetypal mentor for Daniel, because he chooses to help Daniel and makes sure that Daniel does not make all the same mistakes that he did. He sees himself in Daniel and wants to help him achieve a happy life that he was unable to. He helps Daniel realize that he must approach Beatrice's father, and by doing so allows Daniel to live a happy life with Beatrice.
He is also the tragic hero to some extent. His mistake of pursuing a secret relationship with Penelope, leads to him losing almost everything because of circumstances that weren't his fault. He loses both Penelope and his child and burns all of his books when he realizes that they are dead.
Fumero-Villain
Inspector Fumero is the archetypal villain. He is the antagonist of the novel and is most likely insane, or close to it. He continuously creates obstacles for Daniel and Fermin in their attempt to find out what happened to Julian. In addition, Fumero's parents influenced his personality very negatively. He was the child of a ridiculed father and status seeking mother. Miquel, Julian's best friend comments on how Fumero is not normal when he states, "'This guy is a nutter. He catches cats and pigeons and tortures them for hours with his knife. Then he buries them in the pine grove. Delightful'...'This kid isn't right in the head, Julian, and it's probably not his fault.'"(213) This pretty much sums up Fumero, as he does numerous inhuman things throughout the novel and has no loyalties.
Inspector Fumero is the archetypal villain. He is the antagonist of the novel and is most likely insane, or close to it. He continuously creates obstacles for Daniel and Fermin in their attempt to find out what happened to Julian. In addition, Fumero's parents influenced his personality very negatively. He was the child of a ridiculed father and status seeking mother. Miquel, Julian's best friend comments on how Fumero is not normal when he states, "'This guy is a nutter. He catches cats and pigeons and tortures them for hours with his knife. Then he buries them in the pine grove. Delightful'...'This kid isn't right in the head, Julian, and it's probably not his fault.'"(213) This pretty much sums up Fumero, as he does numerous inhuman things throughout the novel and has no loyalties.
The Journey or Quest
The narrative archetype of a journey or quest that the protagonist embarks on is also present in this novel. Daniel embarks on a quest to discover what happened to Julian Carax and who is burning Carax's novels. Daniel has more than one reason to do so and does some questionable things to discover the truth. His reasons to want to solve the mystery include curiosity and his belief that solving the mystery will allow him to remember his mother's face which he forgot when he first read The Shadow of the Wind. While attempting solve the mystery he lies find out information, and acts carelessly which leads to the death of Nuria Monfort.
The narrative archetype of a journey or quest that the protagonist embarks on is also present in this novel. Daniel embarks on a quest to discover what happened to Julian Carax and who is burning Carax's novels. Daniel has more than one reason to do so and does some questionable things to discover the truth. His reasons to want to solve the mystery include curiosity and his belief that solving the mystery will allow him to remember his mother's face which he forgot when he first read The Shadow of the Wind. While attempting solve the mystery he lies find out information, and acts carelessly which leads to the death of Nuria Monfort.
Loss of innocence
Since this is a coming of age novel, it focuses on Daniel's character development. He learns many new things about people and society in general. He realizes through his interaction with Clara, a blind woman 10 years older than him who he is infatuated by, that people may use you. He was too trusting when he first met Clara and continued to read to her even though she was obviously using his innocence to have someone read books to her. He also learns that things are not what they seem when he meets Fermin. At first he assumes that Fermin is just another homeless man, however he soon learns much more about Fermin. He realizes that Fermin was actually a spy during the Spanish Civil War and had been tortured by Fumero when the war ended. Fermin is actually a very intelligent and wise individual and becomes Daniel's true friend.
Since this is a coming of age novel, it focuses on Daniel's character development. He learns many new things about people and society in general. He realizes through his interaction with Clara, a blind woman 10 years older than him who he is infatuated by, that people may use you. He was too trusting when he first met Clara and continued to read to her even though she was obviously using his innocence to have someone read books to her. He also learns that things are not what they seem when he meets Fermin. At first he assumes that Fermin is just another homeless man, however he soon learns much more about Fermin. He realizes that Fermin was actually a spy during the Spanish Civil War and had been tortured by Fumero when the war ended. Fermin is actually a very intelligent and wise individual and becomes Daniel's true friend.
Human Nature to repeat the same mistakes- Cyclical Pattern
Throughout the novel the author Carlos Ruiz Zafon displays a cyclical pattern. The characters in his novel tend to make the same mistakes. For instance, Daniel makes the same mistakes as Julian, including how he handles his love life. Also characters like Tomas, Beatrice's brother and Jorge, Penelope's brother make similar mistakes while trying to protect their sisters'. Another parallel can be seen between Beatrice's and Penelope's father, since Beatrice's father almost ruins his daughter's life like Penelope's father did, when he discovers that Beatrice is pregnant. Zafon uses this archetype of human nature and how people tend to repeat the same mistakes throughout the novel. Many individuals in Daniel's life parallel those in Julian's life and the mistakes they make or almost make also coincide.
Throughout the novel the author Carlos Ruiz Zafon displays a cyclical pattern. The characters in his novel tend to make the same mistakes. For instance, Daniel makes the same mistakes as Julian, including how he handles his love life. Also characters like Tomas, Beatrice's brother and Jorge, Penelope's brother make similar mistakes while trying to protect their sisters'. Another parallel can be seen between Beatrice's and Penelope's father, since Beatrice's father almost ruins his daughter's life like Penelope's father did, when he discovers that Beatrice is pregnant. Zafon uses this archetype of human nature and how people tend to repeat the same mistakes throughout the novel. Many individuals in Daniel's life parallel those in Julian's life and the mistakes they make or almost make also coincide.