Hypocrisy

Ilhéus is full of self-righteous residents who are busy secretly doing the exact same immoral things for which they condemn others. When Colonel Jesuíno murders his wife and her dentist, he is being hypocritical. Jesuíno is not faithful to his wife. The author explains that the Colonel has a fondness for young country girls. There is a double standard for the men and women of Ilhéus, which only feeds this environment of hypocrisy.

When Gabriela first becomes Nacib's lover, she knows that he is also lying with Risoleta, the prostitute. She knows that there may be others as well. She does not mind. She does not complain, she does not attack Nacib or the other women, and she certainly does not consider killing them. Yet when Nacib finds Gabriela with his friend, Tonico Bastos, he is expected to kill them both, and fears he...