Kwan-young Kim

Mrs. Sutterfield

IB English III

10/21/2010

Love in the Time of Cholera

Out of the many characters excluding Fermina Daza and Florentino Ariza, Dr. Juvenal

Urbino can be perhaps called the most important. Unquestionably, this character had the most

direct effect on the relationship between Fermina and Florentino, the novel’s protagonists. In a

way, he can be called an antagonist; however, at the same time, he can be called a protagonist.

Dr. Urbino acted as Florentino’s antagonist by being his prime obstacle in his desire for Fermina,

but at the same time, he was the protagonist; a significant portion of the novel revolved around

him and certainly had a protagonist-like role in Love in the Time of Cholera.

Dr. Urbino is first introduced to the audience as a noble, religious man. He is a devoted

Catholic; it is portrayed in his desire to solve his “soap” problem with Fermina in the text, “At

last he proposed that they both submit to an open confession…God could decide once and for

all…” (28). In addition, it is evident that he is, in most cases, uncommunicative and unemotional,

both of which were evident in his conflict with Fermina. Although he may be uncommunicative

and unemotional, it is true that he is an honest man. This is evident in his refusal to lie to the

Catholic Church for his friend’s suicide in order to allow him to rest in a proper grave. This was

given in the statement, “There was no need for an autopsy…cause of death had been cyanide

vapors…knew too much about those matter for it to have been an accident” (5). There exists

three significant clues that serve to foreshadow later events. The first one is the discovery of

Jeremiah’s secret lover. Although the author gives her no name, Jeremiah’s love to this secret
woman is directly related to the secret affair between Fermina Daza and Florentino Ariza that

occurs later in this novel. In addition, Saint-Amour’s gerontophobia, and his lover’s comment

that he had not even seemed alive during his last month of living also foreshadows future events.

This introduction creates the fear of aging early in the book which is significant as the book

progresses further. Urbino’s view that the city has gone through dynamic changes since the days

of his youth serves as another example of the thematic hatred towards aging and the unwelcome

changes it creates.

Dr. Urbino additionally has a major influence on Fermina’s behavior. The most direct

effect he has on Fermina is to increase her stubbornness. By marrying into an upper class family,

Fermina’s self-pride increased. This is evident in the soap conflict the two had. Contrary to what

has been given so far, there is evidence in the book that Fermina’s marriage with the doctor also

had the opposite effect. Towards the beginning of the text, the line, “For years Fermina Daza had

endured her husband’s jubilant dawns with a bitter heart” (26) suggests that Fermina did gain

patience through her marriage with the esteemed doctor.

Dr. Urbino was an indirect influence to Florentino’s sexual way of life. The novel

makes it absolutely obsessed with Fermina although it is not clear whether this is love or

something entirely else. However, after Dr. Urbino’s contact with Fermina initiated, Fermina

began to go distant towards Florentino until a time came, “When Florentino Ariza learned that

Fermina Daza was going to marry a physician with family and fortune…” (137). This incident

caused him to indirectly to his sexual way of life. Therefore, it can be said that Dr. Urbino

influenced Florentino into his sad life.

 Dr. Urbino, although not considered a protagonist, may be considered one. At the same

time, however, he acts as a barrier for Florentino’s desire for Fermina, in which case he is similar

to that of the antagonist. Through Dr. Urbino’s interaction with Jeremiah, the author creates the

theme of time and age in the book. At the same time, Dr. Urbino is used as a major influence to

both Fermina’s and Florentino’s behavior. Dr. Juvenal Urbino’s personality and existence was a

significant influence in the events of Love in the Time of Cholera.