2 ?b90

19
JosO Maria Lezama shares with Josd Eugenio Cem! his career (an
engineer, and colonel of artillery in the new republic), his death (in
an influenza out-break at Pensacola, his rmrriage into a revolutionary
family, his background: "vasco tipico,, hijo de vascos" and some of his
personal traits: "representaba la alegria, la fuerza expansiva, la sa-
lud de la familia. "
10
Lezama speaks of his own father with pride, as
a competent military man contributing a great deal to the new republic's
army: "Mire, mi padre era un militar. Pero un militar muy especial.
Mi padre forma parte de la clase militar cuando la universidad se incor-
pora al ejdrcito. Era un hombre de carrera: un ingeniero, un arquitec-
to,, un hombre que sabla idiomas. "
11
The opening paragraphs of Paradiso
provide the reader with an introduction by proxy to Jos6 Eugenio, "el
Coronel. " Baldovinia, the servant gir12 imagines his laughter at her
discomfiture when he returns to find his son unwell, "mientras el Coro-
nel baritonizaba sus carcajadas ...
" (13,6). The reader is shown exam-
ples of his authority- it is "la casa del Jefe" (1,, 6)., who commands the
utmost respect from his men: "tambi6n era ingeniero, lo cual engendraba
en la
tropa
...
la misma devoci6n que pudiera haber mostrado ante un
sacerdote copto o un rey cazador asirio" (1,9). This is one of many
comparisons of the family with historical and royal personages in order
to increase their stature. In the midst of the child's suffering, we
are-waylaid by references to his father, all of which emphasize his vigour
and good health. Throughout the novel Josd Eugenio is always referred
to
as
"el Coronel"3, even on his death bed, in his role as father and
leader of men. Only in those chapters dealing with his youth prior to
his marriage are we permitted to approach him more closely. He is not
presented unsympathetically yet there is an unrelenting, unyielding quality
about him which we soon sense. It becomes clear that Lezama does not
plan any surprises,, since in one sweep of the pen he reveals the cheerful