The Country of the Blind

Nunez is the protagonist of the story. He is introduced as a mountaineer from the countryside neighboring Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. Wells describes him as an “enterprising” character fond of books. He comes into the story when he accidentally falls off the side of Parascotopetl while guiding a group of Englishmen up the mountain.

Nunez’s character arc is defined by his attachment to power. He initially considers his sight the asset that makes him superior to the people in the valley. Spurred by the proverb, “In the Country of the Blind the One-eyed Man is King” (447), his first objective is to become their ruler. This motivation makes him an anti-hero, a protagonist with ambiguous moral values. His attempts are increasingly frustrated by the people’s failure to appreciate his arguments, especially since “sight” is a concept that does not exist in their imagination. The interplay between his actions and their consequences drives The Folly of Colonialism as a theme. The people mistakenly call him “Bogotá” throughout his time in the valley, which represents Nunez’s status as a foreign representative trying to encroach on their community.