Essay Questions

Why did Pascual Duarte end up being a murderer?

Pascual grew up in a family full of trouble which majorly contributed to his deteriorating morals. The father who is supposed to be a role model to his young son is a smuggler. On the other hand, the mother is not a social woman. She also lacks motherly predispositions. Additionally, Pascual says that his parents are not truthful. Therefore, Pascual lacks a role model in the whole of his life and he succumbs to peer pressure which leads him to immoral acts including killing people without a second thought. At last, Pascual ends u in prison serving a sentence for murder.

What is the irony of Mario in the novel?

The way the Duarte family treats Mario is completely the opposite of the readers’ expectations. Mario is younger than Duarte but he is unfortunately born handicapped. However, instead of being treated fairly with care, the family treats him as an outcast and a lesser being because of his disability. The parents who are supposed to show parental love to him instead beat him and abuse him unnecessarily. Due to his mistreatment from the family members, Mario dies when he falls into an oil vat.

What is the main theme in The Family of Pascual Duarte?

The theme of death is prevalent throughout the memoir which is written by Duarte while in his prison cell. Various characters in this memoir succumbed to their death in various circumstances. Firstly, Mario, Duarte’s younger brother dies after falling into an oil vet. Secondly, Duarte’s wife miscarries after getting pregnant for the first time. She later gets pregnant and gives birth to a baby boy who dies a few months later. Duarte kills his mother by shooting her claiming that she is the source of his misfortunes. Duarte's wife dies shortly after he realizes that she is doing prostitution. Duarte again kills Stretch and he is arrested and imprisoned for murder. Consequently, Duarte's memoir is about death which emerges as the main theme.