Six Problems for Don Isidro Parodi

Main Characters and Their Development

• Don Isidro Parodi—a prisoner whose mind is sharp and lucid despite the prison walls. He embodies ironic intelligence, able to solve the most tangled mysteries without leaving his cell. Parodi is an observer, a philosopher, a man whose inner freedom stands in contrast to his external confinement. His character unfolds in subtle nuances: from skeptical detachment to deep compassion for human weaknesses, revealed in his attitude toward visitors and their stories. Each new case is not only an intellectual challenge for him but also an occasion to reflect on the nature of truth and error.
• Parodi’s visitors—a gallery of vivid, grotesque, and colorful figures, each bringing not only a mystery but also the imprint of their own fate. Their personalities are revealed in dialogue, in the way they recount their troubles, in their attempts to hide or embellish the truth. Through their portraits, the author creates a satirical image of society, where vanity, fear, naivety, and cunning intertwine in a peculiar dance.
• Secondary characters—figures who appear in the visitors’ stories, often drawn with grotesque precision. They serve not only as a backdrop for the puzzles but also as reflections of human passions, weaknesses, and vices. Their development follows the logic of the tale, but each one hints at a living, sometimes tragicomic character, giving the narrative special depth and complexity.