The perception that Abelin gives of Abel is understatedly a negative one, and he wishes to release this view of his father on Joaquin, almost like it was a burden inside of him that needed to come out. It is obvious that Abelin feels very strongly about his father, and even mocks his profession that he is so famous for. He claims that not only does painting not interest him, but his father’s painting even less for he finds Abel may be a good artist by science, but does not paint within himself; it lacks emotion, insight and feeling. Then he proceeds to metaphorically describe his father as “being made of cork” meaning he lacks feeling for painting and everything else in life and lives for the selfish means of glory, not for the emotion his paintings should provoke inside himself. Abelin then after continues on an even more negative note, when he asserts that he doesn’t understand why he married his mother, for he is positive it was not out of love for her for he doesn’t really care for anyone, not even Abelin. Abelin justifies that statement by explaining how he never really paid any attention to him or praised him, he just supported his education and does not exert himself into his son’s life anymore than that. But the worst perception of his father at all, according to Abelin, was his lack of reprimanding when he was young that he feels reflects his father’s utter indifference toward him. Joaquin defends Abel by stating that it shows his integrity and trust in his son, choosing not to use punishment as a means of consequence. During that conversation, it is clear the differences in opinion between Joaquin and Abelin. Although Joaquin may have been disagreeing to comfort Abelin and to hide his secretive loathing for his father, the contrast between both perceptions thus far in the book is tremendous.
Joaquin’s using “children” as a tool of revenge.
It is blatant throughout the book that Joaquin’s obsessive jealousy and hatred for Abel is unhealthy and insane, indicating that his character is in a poor mental state as he so often admits. He does many irrational and cruel things to make himself feel better, such as through that banquet for him and appraise his success, which somehow makes Joaquin feel better in a cynical sense. Joaquin never does anything for Abel for any other intention other then selfish purposes to ease his troubled mind. When he embraced his friend after giving that seemingly heartwarming speech, he wished to crush Abel in his arms. Another indication of Joaquin’s insanity was when he was faced with a conscious decision where the fate of Abel was left in his hands, in which he had a difficult time deciding whether to save him, or let him die without suspicion and try to win Helena.
Recently within the story, Joaquin has found a new way to revenge Abel and make himself feel better, which is stealing his son away from him. “At the same time, deeper down in my heart, my demon whispered that the failure of the son would negate the pre-eminence of his father. I wanted to redeem myself of my hatred for the father by my affection for the son, and, on the other, I took a secret delight in anticipating that though Abel Sanchez triumphed in painting, another Abel Sanchez of his own blood would fail at medicine.” Although at first he wished to destroy his son in order to embarrass Abel for a son is a reflection of their father, he grew a deep and personal connection with whom he describes as “the son of the man who embittered and darkened the life of my spirit”. Then, he wished to have Abelin make a book out of the notes taken from him, and then realized that he will be a reflection of himself, not his father, and that was rewarding in itself. Joaquin delighted in the fact that his son would respect him more than his own father, what he considers will be a prize won. This reflects the desperate need for Joaquin to have something over Abel, and also shows his ridiculously competitive nature, for he is using Abelin to be a certain victory in which he will know that the success of his son will be a product of himself, not Abel and he will inevitably respect Joaquin more through all of his teachings and help.
If his cruel intentions using children as a tool as an act of revenge were not selfish and horrible enough, he even uses his own daughter to help ease him of his pain. The sad essence of Joaquin is that he so desperately wishes he was not like the way he is, and desires not to think and do the things he does in spite of this man, which is seen through his writings in the Confession. He writes to his daughter, “Only by linking your fate with young Abel, the son of the man who had poison the fountain of my life, only by mixing our two blood lines could there be any hope for my salvation”. He indicates and confesses here that he had lied to his daughter when explaining why he should marry Abelin; his intentions were those of his own gratification and twisted satisfaction to ease himself of his troubling burden of Abel’s being. Joaquin even went so far as to convince Abelin that his daughter Joaquina was in love with him and hoped for a mutual return of feelings, deceiving both his daughter and respected friend in order to satisfy himself in a sick way. He discusses human tragedy, and desires for the children of them to fight so he knows in his mind that he will not be the only one to feel pain and suffering.
