Baltasar and Blimunda

Summary

The central thesis of José Saramago's "Baltasar and Blimunda" is that extraordinary events, often attributed to divine intervention or miraculous phenomena, are in fact deeply human creations born from a blend of desire, delusion, and the powerful forces of repression and societal control. The novel follows the creation of a colossal flying machine, a project driven by King John V's ambition and funded by the Inquisition's oppressive apparatus. This ambitious undertaking becomes the focal point for the lives of its protagonists, Baltasar the one-armed craftsman and Blimunda the seer, whose intimate connection with each other and with the marginalized is contrasted against the ostentatious displays of power and faith.

The book explores the complex interplay between faith, reason, and the supernatural, questioning the nature of miracles and the human capacity for both immense creation and profound destruction. Saramago scrutinizes the hypocrisy of religious institutions and the arbitrary nature of power, demonstrating how grand spectacles can mask mundane human desires and fears. Readers are left with an understanding of how collective belief and political machinations can manifest as seemingly miraculous events, revealing the underlying human agency and societal pressures.

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Key concepts

• The Flying Machine — A monumental construction project symbolizing human ambition, technological endeavor, and the desire to transcend earthly limitations, often fueled by royal decree and religious justification.
• The Power of Blimunda's Sight — Blimunda's telepathic and clairvoyant abilities represent a different form of perception, one rooted in empathy and connection, which stands in opposition to the rigid doctrines of the Inquisition.
• The Inquisition — A powerful institution that embodies societal repression, ideological control, and the suppression of individual thought and desire in the name of religious purity.
• Sacra Experimenta — The ritualistic and often absurd religious ceremonies and pronouncements that mask the King's and the Church's true motivations and anxieties.