The Mirror of the Sea · Chapter
XLIII explained
Dominic Cervoni's nephew Cesar is a monstrous, depraved youth whom Dominic tries to discipline with violent cuffs.
What happens
Dominic Cervoni's nephew Cesar is a monstrous, depraved youth whom Dominic tries to discipline with violent cuffs. Cesar's mysterious absences and malicious behavior cause concern before the Tremolino's final voyage. The crew receives intelligence from a bribed customs officer about a guardacostas lying unsuspecting at anchor, allowing them to proceed with their risky scheme.
Themes in this chapter
Fidelity and Love of Ships
The Tremolino is the vessel at the heart of the chapter, and Dominic's dedication to the risky voyage reflects his fidelity to the ship and the enterprise.
Nostalgia and Loss
The chapter foreshadows the Tremolino's last voyage, and Dominic's despair over Cesar hints at the loss to come.
Characters to notice
- Dominic Cervoni
Dominic is the master of the Tremolino, struggling to discipline his nephew Cesar with violent cuffs. He receives intelligence from a bribed customs officer and expresses genuine despair over Cesar's incorrigibility.
- Cesar
Cesar is Dominic's nephew, described as a monstrous, depraved youth with a snakelike appearance. He disappears before the voyage, sells his coat, and shows a new kind of hate and malice after being knocked down.
- Doña Rita
Mentioned as having declared Dominic 'perfect'; her judgment is recalled in the chapter.
- Pietro Brunaschi
Mentioned in the backstory of the Cervoni-Brunaschi vendetta: he was killed by Dominic's brother while eating broth.
Key passages
“We are ready to go at once, but for Cesar, who has been missing ever since breakfast.”
We are prepared to depart immediately, except that Cesar has been absent since morning.
Dominic announces the delay caused by Cesar's disappearance.
“I must try to make a man of him.”
I have to attempt to turn him into a proper man.
Dominic explains his hopeless mission to reform Cesar.
“He wants to be a locksmith!”
He claims he wants to become a locksmith.
Dominic scoffs at Cesar's stated ambition, suspecting it is a pretext for learning to pick locks.