A very Joyce beginning to the chapter, all stream of consciousness. Good way to introduce the character (we’ve met Moreno before, right? He’s the Spaniard who always lives abroad?).

“Now God had made them all equal, so He could forgive them all.” In this novel: the poor are uncultured and and ignorant of society, the middle class are crass and ape society without having class, the rich are corrupted and rotting from within. This is a massive satire, but it’s not mean or thin, it gets into the messiness of people.

“Humanity is a bunch of imbeciles,” says the man trying to love all humanity. But then aren’t we all a multitude of hypocricies.

What has driven Maximiliano to this state? Probably jealousy and paranoia about his wife. He doesn’t deserve her, and he knows it. Strangely she married beneath herself, even if she married Juanito it would have been beneath her. The lower the social class the closer to truth? Not sure I buy it, but I get the hint (rich man, eye of needle, kingdom of heaven)

This is as close as true empathy we’ll get from Dona Lupe, when she agrees he’s indecent not to have given Fortunata any money. Of course this is wrapped up in greed, pride, and arrogance, but still, it’s something. And she’s not wrong, either. He is a real bastard.

Dona Lupe isn’t wrong. Telling Fortunata that a lot of her problems stem from pride is an accurate judgement. Had Fortunata said she feared to sin then help would be forthcoming. But her pride holds her down. But then again, why shouldn’t she he allowed to love whom she chooses? It’s a quandary.