The Time of the Hero

Main Characters and Their Development

• In «The Time of the Hero», the gallery of characters emerges with striking clarity, as if against the harsh walls of the military academy, where each is forced to fight for their own identity and survival. Alberto, nicknamed the Poet, appears as a sensitive, vulnerable soul striving to preserve his dignity in a world of cruelty and hypocrisy. His inner conflict between honesty and the need to obey the system’s rules becomes the central thread of his development. Jaguar embodies strength, rebellion, and inner turmoil; he seems fearless, but behind his mask of brutality lies deep vulnerability and a longing for justice. Ricardo Arana, the Slave, is a symbol of naivety and trust; his tragic fate highlights the mercilessness of an environment where weakness is not forgiven. Lieutenant Gamboa is a rare example of an adult capable of compassion and honesty; his moral steadfastness becomes a beacon for the young cadets. Each character undergoes trials that reveal their true nature, forcing them to change, break, or, on the contrary, become hardened, turning their destinies into a tragic hymn of coming of age and lost illusions.