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Taylor Gridley

Dr. Ginger Jones

English 4320

10 November 2022

Indifference and Activism in Pereira Maintains

Antonio Tabucchi, in Pereira Maintains, tells the story of Dr. Pereira, a widower, and

journalist who is indifferent to the world around him, despite its tense political climate. He

resides in Lisbon, Portugal in 1938, a time when the fascist Salazarist regime is threatening

Portugal. Tabucchi utilizes Dr. Pereira to explore the complexities surrounding the journalist’s

apathetic outlook, following his growing discontent and eventual action. Pereira illustrates the

ignorance that comes along with apathy, the importance of raising awareness, and finally, the

significance of taking action.

Initially, Pereira is content to ignore the world around him, attempting to only focus on

his work on the culture page of the Lisboa, which he insists is unaffected by politics, it is only

with the arrival of Monteiro Rossi and his girlfriend, Marta, that he begins to question his

indifference. On learning Rossi and Marta are political activists, Pereira is reluctant to become

involved with them, saying “I don’t like fanatical people, it seems to me that the world is full of

fanatics” (22), that that he is “nobody’s comrade, [he] is a lone wolf and like it” (76). Despite

this, he agrees to read Rossi’s articles, declaring them “unpublishable” (31), yet choosing to keep

them in a file in his office instead of discarding them. Though he is unwilling to consider Rossi’s

ideas at the present moment, declaring he does not know the reasons for his actions, he leaves

this door open for his future self to explore. This trend of gradual growth continues when he
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meets his old college friend, Professor Silva, for dinner. Pereira introduces the topic of politics

and becomes incensed when Silva expresses his acceptance of the current regime and his willful

ignorance of the increasing influence of the Spanish dictatorship. Silva states, “the climate here

doesn’t encourage us to have political opinions…that’s the way we’re made” (57). At this,

Pereira considers his own position as a journalist, that he “must be free to keep the people

properly informed” (57). Though unwilling at this point to make a change, Pereira begins to see

the possibility of such a change.

After his exposure to the political sphere, Pereira pushes the boundaries of his beliefs,

considering how his unique position as the sole writer for the culture page of the Lisboa may

allow him a measure of influence. On returning to Lisbon from visiting Professor Silva, Pereira

has a motivating conversation with Ingeborg Delgado. She implores him to “tell people what’s

going on in Europe, tell them your own honest opinion, just get on and do something” (63).

Though he has some immediate reservations concerning his editor-in-chief and the censorship of

the regime that may prevent his speaking out, he considers the reach of his translated works in

the Lisboa. His stories “might come into someone’s life like a message in a bottle…and this was

the only way he had of sending a message to someone ready and willing to receive it” (67). Dr.

Cardosa encourages Pereira’s changing outlook, describing his “theory of the confederation of

souls” (111). He tells Pereira, “If you’re beginning to think that those youngsters are in the

right…go ahead and think it…let yourself be guided by your new ruling ego” (113). Pereira

begins to embrace his shifting beliefs, publishing increasingly controversial works in the paper,

such as the Contes du Lundi by Alphonse Daudet, and discounts the dangers associated with

doing so.
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Periera is truly stirred to action upon receiving a dressing down by his editor-in-chief and

witnessing the death of Monteiro Rossi at the hands of the Salazarist “police”, representing the

end of his indifference. The editor-in-chief calls Pereira to his office to discuss the “panegyric on

France…[which] has caused a lot of offense in high places” (155). The editor-in-chief chastises

Pereira for not considering the political ramifications of his latest story, “A nineteenth century

story it may be…but it is nonetheless concerned with a war against Germany, and you cannot be

ignorant of the fact, Pereira, that Germany is our ally” (156). He tells Pereira to be grateful to the

police for “protecting” the people of Portugal and demands that he have the final say over

anything Pereira wants to publish. This meeting is immediately followed by Rossi’s arrival at

Pereira’s home. He agrees to shelter Rossi, even after learning he has been forging passports for

the resistance effort. After Rossi is discovered and beaten to death by three members of the

“political police” (179), Pereira is warned against becoming more involved in the resistance

effort himself. He suddenly realizes that “he had to act quickly, very quickly indeed, for time

was short” (185), and implements his first act of rebellion. With the help of Dr. Cardoso, who

has fled to France, Pereira publishes an anti-government obituary of Rossi, including his

assumption that the “political police” were “gangsters acting with the complicity of persons in

high places” (188), before departing with Rossi’s unpublished articles. This represents Pereira’s

taking initiative, choosing a side in the conflict, and becoming an active member of society.

Tabucchi implores the readers to actively engage with life and avoid the traps of apathy,

which can blind us to the dangers of the world around us. In Diego Fusara’s video (2015), he

quotes the Italian philosopher, Antonio Gramsci’s statements on indifference, "I hate the

indifferent. I believe that living means taking sides. To truly live means to be a citizen and to

participate. Indifference and apathy are parasitism, perversion, not life…[Indifference] is the raw
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material that ruins intelligence." Tabucchi clearly agrees with Gramsci’s beliefs, condemning

apathy and encouraging active participation. Dr. Pereira is shown moving through the stages of

indifference, questioning his beliefs, and finally, choosing to take a stand against the regime.

Others in Pereira’s journey act as catalysts, not by changing his beliefs, but by inspiring him to

consider his place in society and consider how he can contribute to the resistance effort. His

friend Silva solidifies his contempt for indifference and ignorance, Senhora Delgado encourages

him to act on his beliefs in whatever way he can, and Rossi opens his eyes to the hazards of the

political climate that he had previously chosen to ignore. Tabucchi leaves readers questioning

their own places in society, and how they can avoid indifference in their own lives and

communities.
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Works Cited

"'Pereira Maintains'. A Novel of the Oppositional Conscience." YouTube, uploaded by Diego

Fusara, 18 Oct. 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=94sI3eqxCWg&ab_channel=DiegoFusaro.

Tabucchi, Antonio. Pereira Maintains, translated by Patrick Creagh, Kindle ed., New Directions,

2017.