Dom Casmurro

Bento takes charge of the funeral arrangements for Escobar. A large crowd of friends and acquaintances attend the ceremony, with carriages filling the streets. Due to the limited space in Escobar’s house, many people gather on the beach, discussing the accident and sharing opinions on Escobar’s character and financial affairs. Bento, having decided to give a speech, had shown it to José Dias, who commended it and spread news around Flamengo about Bento’s intention to address the gathering. In his speech, Bento wrote about his and Escobar’s friendship and shared history.

At Escobar’s funeral, Sancha, overwhelmed with despair, bids a final farewell to her husband, eliciting grief and pity in everyone present. Many attending are moved to tears, except for Capitú, who maintains composure and tries to console her friend. However, Capitú momentarily gazes down at the corpse with passionate intensity, shedding a few quiet tears. Bento watches Capitú‘s emotional reaction and likens her eyes to the vast ocean that engulfed Escobar, noting that they mirror the profound emotion seen in Sancha‘s gaze at her deceased husband.

Suppressing his emotions, Bento moves to the cemetery, assisting in lowering the coffin into the grave. With trembling hands and a shaky voice, he emotionally reads a tribute to his deceased friend. The audience responds with understanding and approval, and a man requests permission to publish it in the newspaper. Overwhelmed, Bento refuses the request.

Bento reflects on the irony of praising Escobar despite the intensity of Capitú’s gaze upon him, even in death. Drawing a parallel to Priam, who deemed himself unfortunate for having touched the hand of his son’s killer, Bento implies that individuals like Priam keep their sorrow concealed, presenting a facade of happiness despite the underlying anguish.

On the car ride home from the funeral, Bento tears up his speech, dismissing its value and rejecting any possibility of publication. José Dias praises the speech and extols Escobar’s virtues. Lost in thought, Bento ruminates on Sancha’s mourning, finding contradictions in her gestures the previous evening and the inconsolable grief displayed at the funeral.

Deciding to walk to clear his mind, Bento entertains suspicions about Capitú, wondering about the meaning behind her gaze during the funeral and if there might be hidden emotions for Escobar. He questions the authenticity of her gestures and contemplates whether his past passion for her is clouding his judgment. After initially arriving home, Bento retraces his steps, continuing to contemplate. The motivation behind his extended walk remains uncertain, with doubts lingering about whether it stems from his own uncertainties or a desire to provoke similar concerns in Capitú. Eventually, he regains composure and returns home.

While walking, Bento comes across a barber passionately playing the fiddle, ignoring waiting customers. The music captures Bento’s attention and draws a growing crowd. A woman, presumably the barber’s wife, appears and expresses gratitude for Bento’s presence. Despite the audience, the barber continues playing. Bento, continuing on his way, reflects on the situation, imagining the barber playing more desperately if someone were to make advances to his wife. Bento draws a parallel between this hypothetical scenario and his own actions, suggesting that, like the barber in his fantasy, he delivered the speech to maintain appearances, all the while grappling with jealousy over Capitú’s gaze at Escobar.

Bento quietly ascends the stairs at home, finding Cousin Justina and José Dias playing cards. Capitú, appearing calm, discusses Escobar’s accident, blaming his recklessness. They talk about Sancha’s refusal to stay with them, as she has moved to her relatives’ home in another state. Capitú briefly leaves to check on her sleeping son, returning tearful, mentioning thoughts of Sancha and Escobar’s daughter.

The following day, Bento laments discarding his speech, recognizing it as a remembrance of Escobar. Reflecting on the gifts he received from Escobar, he reads about his friend’s death in the newspapers. Capitú becomes emotional as she learns Escobar’s will contains a heartfelt message addressed to Bento.

Bento directly speaks to Sancha, advising her against reading the book and suggesting that she either discard it or burn it to spare herself additional distress. He emphasizes the irrevocable nature of past events, particularly those involving Capitú, and encourages Sancha to concentrate on her life in old age instead of delving into the forthcoming chapters.

Capitú notices Bento’s silence and attempts to cheer him up by suggesting various diversions. Bento, however, responds tersely, mentioning that business has been going poorly. When Capitú proposes selling her jewels and valuable objects to ease these financial troubles, Bento affirms it won’t be needed. Taking advantage of her absence, Benton decides to leave the house.

Bento acknowledges that another incident, which occurred a few weeks earlier, should have been narrated before this one but opts to include it in the following chapter to avoid the trouble of renumbering the pages.

The incident in question happened in 1872. At the time, Bento’s legal profession brought in a good income, and his son Ezekiel was growing up. During a playful moment after dinner, Capitú noticed an odd expression in Ezekiel’s eyes, reminiscent of the late Escobar. Bento, upon closer inspection, agreed with her observation but didn’t find it strange at the time.

As Ezekiel matures, Bento notices an increasing resemblance to the late Escobar. The passage of time refines his features, which now mirror those of Bento’s former colleague. Suspicions of Capitú’s infidelity weigh heavily on Bento. In an attempt to alleviate his pain and distance himself from the boy, he decides to send Ezekiel to boarding school. However, this choice only exacerbates his internal struggle, as Ezekiel’s return evokes poignant memories of Escobar. Bento endeavors to conceal his aversion to his son, contributing to a strained atmosphere at home.

Bento wrestles with the weight of his conviction regarding Capitú’s infidelity, convinced that Ezekiel is, in reality, Escobar’s child. The strain in his relationship with Ezekiel takes a toll on his mental well-being, and his anguish reaches a critical point. In profound despair, he grapples with suicidal ideation.

Bento grapples with the haunting idea, which torments him throughout the night. Despite his efforts to dismiss it, the idea persists as morning comes. During the day, Bento goes to the pharmacy and buys poison. Later, he visits his mother’s house, ostensibly for a casual visit, but with the underlying intention of making it their final encounter. However, he finds a fleeting sense of peace in the company of his relatives.

Bento attends the play Othello and reflects on the theme of jealousy and its manifestations. The play evokes thoughts of Capitú’s guilt, and Bento concludes that she deserves a more intense punishment than Desdemona. Unable to escape his dark thoughts, Bento roams the streets until dawn. In thinking about the end of his life, he realizes that he will never see familiar places again and contemplates his impending departure. Returning home, he writes a final letter to Capitú. Devoid of reminders of their past love, the letter includes his decision to end his life and suspicions of her infidelity.

Bento plans to mix the poison with his morning coffee but decides to read before doing so. As he stirs the coffee, thoughts of the previous evening’s play intrude. However, seeing a photograph of Escobar fortifies his resolve. As Bento is about to drink, he considers waiting for Capitú and Ezekiel to leave for Mass. While pacing, Ezekiel enters, exclaiming “Papa!” Bento, affected by the sight of his son, retreats, unintentionally knocking against a bookcase. Ezekiel, eager to greet his father, clings to Bento’s knees.

Ezekiel attempts to kiss Bento’s hand. Instead of drinking the poisoned coffee himself, Bento offers it to Ezekiel. While bringing the cup to the child’s lips, Bento hesitates, quickly withdrawing. Ezekiel exclaims “Papa!” once again, and Bento shouts, denying being his father.

Capitú enters the room and, noticing Bento’s tears, questions the emotional exchange between him and Ezekiel. Bento repeats that Ezekiel is not his biological son. Capitú, shocked by this claim, vehemently denies any wrongdoing and insists on a comprehensive explanation. Bento, reiterating his assertion about Ezekiel’s parentage, leaves Capitú both indignant and insistent on a full disclosure of the truth. Despite her impassioned pleas, Bento chooses to withhold certain details, particularly those involving Escobar. Capitú is in disbelief, and Bento asserts the inevitability of their separation.

However, Ezekiel’s sudden entrance, announcing the time for Mass, brings him back to reality. As Ezekiel enters, both Capitú’s and Bento’s eyes instinctively turn toward a photograph of Escobar, triggering a realization for Bento. Although Capitú remains silent, to Bento her actions imply an acknowledgment of a connection between Escobar and Ezekiel. Without uttering a word, Capitú and Ezekiel then leave for Mass.

Alone, Bento decides against drinking the coffee laced with poison, opting for another solution that allows room for reparation and justice. Upon Capitú’s return from church, she anticipates Bento’s reluctance but finds him resolved. Bento recalls Gurgel’s words about inexplicable resemblances, and memories flood his mind, revealing past incidents and interactions that he had overlooked or dismissed. These recollections, previously seen as harmless, now contribute to Bento’s growing realization and discomfort about the potential truth concerning Ezekiel’s paternity.

Bento decides on a significant solution to their strained relationship: to travel to Europe, specifically Switzerland. A Brazilian governess accompanies Capitú and aids in teaching Ezekiel the native language, while his formal education is entrusted to Swiss schools. After organizing their lives accordingly, Bento eventually returns to Brazil.

In the subsequent months, Capitú writes to him in a submissive, affectionate, and later, longing manner. Despite her requests for a visit, Bento maintains distance and remains unresponsive. He undertakes two return trips, creating an illusion that he has been residing with Capitú, effectively deceiving public opinion.

José Dias, who longed to accompany Bento to Europe in his youth, stays behind during Bento’s trips due to his responsibilities caring for Uncle Cosme and Bento’s aging mother. Soon after, Dona Gloria passes away. Bento organizes a tomb in the cemetery with the inscription “A saint” to commemorate his deceased mother. The Vicar of the parish questions the unconventional inscription, but Bento defends it, highlighting that it signifies the virtues she had in life and asserting that the term accurately encapsulates his mother’s character.

Despite a small legacy Dona Gloria left him, José Dias insists on staying close, and he moves in with Bento in his later years. In correspondence with Capitú, he requests pictures of Ezekiel, but fails to get answers. As his health declines, he experiences a swift illness and accepts his fate with peace. In his final moments, he appreciates the beauty of the sky through an opened window, murmuring, “Most beautiful,” before departing this world.

Living in relative seclusion and rarely venturing out, Bento contemplates the distant nature of his current life. While his current residence in Engenho Novo replicates his childhood home in Matacavallos, it mainly serves as a reminder through comparison. After his mother’s death, Bento considered returning to the old house, but nothing felt familiar except for a few external elements. Feeling estranged and unwelcome, he opted to have the old house demolished and later decided to recreate it in Engenho Novo from memory, providing specific directions to an architect for the reconstruction.

Ezekiel arrives at Bento’s house for a visit. His presence forces Bento to confront the past and remember Escobar, which stirs a mix of emotions. Over a formal breakfast, Ezekiel shares details about his life, studies, and passion for archaeology. Conversations touch upon Ezekiel’s childhood and Capitú’s death, but Bento avoids delving deeply into these topics. The encounter becomes a psychological challenge for Bento as he contends with the discomfort of recognizing Escobar’s traits in Ezekiel. Despite occasional discomfort, Bento plays the role of a father. Both speak of Cousin Justina, who had wanted to meet Ezekiel before her death, a wish that Bento strategically avoided fulfilling.

Six months later, Bento agrees to finance one of Ezekiel’s expeditions, providing an advance on the required funds. Reflecting on the paradox of supporting his career, Bento briefly entertains the idea that he would have preferred to give Ezekiel a disease instead of the money, a thought he immediately regrets.

Eleven months after Ezekiel’s archaeological expedition, he succumbs to typhoid fever and is buried near Jerusalem. His university friends set up a tomb with an inscription from the prophet Ezekiel and send it to Bento, along with details of the grave and expenses. Bento openly admits that he would have willingly paid triple to avoid encountering Ezekiel again. Despite the somber news, Bento carries on with his routine, eating a good dinner and attending the theater.

After separating from Capitú, Bento’s involvement with various women was fleeting and ephemeral. He compares these relationships to visitors at an exhibition who leave after a brief stay, never to return, recounting the customary farewells and the disappointment of being left alone.

Bento reflects on the inability of subsequent relationships to eclipse the memory of his first love, Capitú, attributing it to their lack of similar qualities. He ponders whether Capitú’s inclination for deceit was inherent from childhood or the result of a transformative incident, ultimately leaning towards the latter.

As he assesses his losses, Bento asserts that both his initial love and his closest friend ultimately collaborated in deceiving him. Despite the betrayal, he expresses a wish for their peaceful rest and announces the commencement of his next novel, which will delve into the history of the suburbs.