Essay Questions

What is the significance of the character Casaubon?

Casaubon is the heroic character in the Foucault’s Pendulum because the theme of betrayal revolves around his role in the story. At first, he betrays Belbo when he refuses to support him in his activism activities in campus. Belbo trusts Casaubon and he believes that he is among the first people to help him champion his ideas on campus but that does not happen.

Is the obsession of doing wrong things one of the main themes in the Foucault’s Pendulum?

Obsession among characters in Foucault’s Pendulum is driven by some level of insanity and stupidity. Casaubon and his friends easily fall into temptations despite being aware of the possible consequences. The reader can conclude that Casaubon and his friends are insane because despite knowing the danger before them, they go ahead in participating in activities that endanger their lives.

What is common among the characters Belbo and Amparo?

Both Belbo and Amparo feel betrayed by Casaubon. For instance, when Belbo is leading a student movement, he feels that Casaubon is the biggest hindrance because he does not show interest in supporting him to fulfill his ambitions. Belbo ends up hating Casaubon without telling him the reason for his hatred towards him. When Amparo falls into a trance, she gets the impression that Casaubon does not care about her because he did not watch over her and that is why she fell into a trance. Therefore, the two characters share similar negative feelings towards Casaubon.