Gerardo

Summary

Gerardo Escobar is one of the main characters in Death and the Maiden, a play by Ariel Dorfman. He is a lawyer and a human rights activist who has been appointed to lead a commission to investigate the crimes of the former dictatorship in his country. 

He is married to Paulina, a former political prisoner who was tortured and raped by a doctor during her captivity. Gerardo is unaware of his wife's trauma and tries to persuade her to move on and embrace the new democracy. He is also conflicted about his role in the commission, as he has to balance the demands of justice and reconciliation. 

He faces a moral dilemma when Paulina accuses Roberto, a stranger who helped him with a flat tire, of being her torturer and kidnaps him in their house. Gerardo has to decide whether to trust his wife's testimony, protect Roberto's rights, or expose the truth about the past.

QUOTES

QUOTE 1:

"We are going to forget, Paulina. We are going to forget everything that happened here tonight."

(Act 3, Scene 1)

First, the quote uses repetition of the phrase "We are going to forget" to emphasize Gerardo's determination to erase the memory of the night and to persuade Paulina to do the same. The repetition also suggests that Gerardo is trying to convince himself as much as Paulina, implying that he is not confident or comfortable with his decision. 

Second, the quote uses the pronoun "we" to create a sense of unity and solidarity between Gerardo and Paulina, as well as to imply that they share the same perspective and feelings. However, this pronoun also reveals Gerardo's attempt to impose his will on Paulina and to ignore her individual experience and trauma. By using "we", Gerardo assumes that Paulina wants to forget as well, and does not acknowledge her need for justice and closure. 

Third, the quote uses the verb "forget" to suggest that Gerardo wants to deny and suppress the reality of what happened to Paulina and to Roberto. The verb "forget" implies that Gerardo does not want to face the consequences of his actions, such as the possibility of losing Paulina's trust and love, or of exposing Roberto's crimes to the public. The verb "forget" also implies that Gerardo does not want to remember or learn from the past, and that he prefers to live in a state of ignorance and illusion. 

QUOTE 2:

"I love you, Paulina, I love you more than anything in this world, but I can't let you... I can't let you kill him." 

(Act 2, Scene 3)

First, the quote uses repetition to emphasize Gerardo's love for Paulina and his reluctance to let her commit murder. He says "I love you" twice, and "I can't let you" twice, showing his desperation and determination. The repetition also creates a contrast between his love and his opposition, suggesting that he is torn between his loyalty to his wife and his sense of justice.

Second, the quote uses ellipsis to create suspense and ambiguity. Gerardo pauses before saying "kill him", leaving the audience wondering what he is going to say. The ellipsis also implies that he is struggling to say the word, as if he is afraid of the consequences or the reaction of Paulina. The ellipsis also creates a gap between his words and his actions, as he does not actually stop Paulina from shooting Roberto.

Third, the quote uses pronouns to indicate the different relationships and perspectives of the characters. Gerardo uses "you" to address Paulina, showing his intimacy and affection. He also uses "him" to refer to Roberto, showing his distance and detachment. However, Paulina uses "he" to refer to Roberto, showing her hatred and contempt. She also uses "we" to include Gerardo in her plan, showing her expectation and assumption. The pronouns reveal the different attitudes and emotions of the characters towards each other and the situation.