The portrait of Hermenegilda as a symbol of end of suffering
Dona Hermenegilda was the deceased wife of the head of state who is the main character in the book. She was very virtuous and beloved by the people of her country. When she died, her portrait was commissioned by the minister of education and it was said that it miraculously cured the pain of childbirth and the colic. It also helped young unmarried women secure husbands.
Allegory of the head of state and his commanders
The narrator explains that when the head of state and his generals went to war, his tent was pitched in the middle of the camp and was supported by strong ropes that were attached to posts. The tent and its position are allegorical to the rank that the head of state had as he was the most powerful and the ropes that held up his tent are allegorical to his loyal comrades.
Allegory of the character of the head of state
The head of state was addicted to alcohol and he hid his addiction well. This hidden addiction to alcohol is allegorical to his behavior as a bloody dictator for he disguised himself as a learned man of high social class in France. The head of state led an extravagant lifestyle in France.
Allegory of the rain
After the head of state was successful in defeating Galvan, the narrator remarked that the night was raining and that the level of the rain had started rising. This is allegorical to the effects of war which include the killings of human beings that were bloody.
The mummies as a symbol of terror
When the head of state and his army comrades were celebrating their victory in battle in a cave, they discovered that the cave had several mummies. The mummies terrified them and they ran out screaming that the mummies were the devil. The mummies made the men sleep outside out of fear.
