Carmen (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Prosper Merimee
- First Published: 1845
- Type of Work: Novella
- Type of Plot: Psychological realism
- Time of Work: Early nineteenth century
- Setting: Primarily Seville and Córdoba, Spain
- Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction
- Subjects: Changelings or cuckoos, Love or romance, Murder or homicide, Nineteenth century, Jealousy, envy, or resentment, Obsession, Soldiers, Smuggling or smugglers, Outlaws, Spain or Spanish people, Gypsies
- Locales: Andalusia, Spain, Seville, Spain, Córdoba, Spain
Characters Discussed
Carmen, an attractive, quick-tempered, thieving gypsy girl who seduces, torments, and eventually tries to drop Don José, as she had done with several other lovers before. As a gypsy woman, she is without rights, lives by her own code, and belongs nowhere. This exotic femme fatale leads men, through her fickleness and infidelities, not only to distraction but also to destruction. When she slashes the face of another girl working in the cigarette factory during an argument, she persuades the corporal of the guard, Don José, to let her escape but allows him...
[The entire page is 755 words long]
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