JOAQUIN

Joaquin is in his middle seventies with thin white hair, though is still ‘nimble’ for a man of such age. He is sure and straight-backed, and could easily be mistaken for a man of middle age. He was born in Spain in the early 20th century. Joaquin is Elena’s grandfather through her fathers side. Joaquin’s family was murdered during the early days of the civil war. He survived the war, treating psychologically damaged nationalist soldiers. He married and had a son. His wife later died from cancer, and his son died car crash. When Elena discovered his doings during and after the war, she severed lines of communication with him. Joaquin was raised as a catholic but his belief waned during the war. ‘There is no god to forgive you, no psychiatrist to cure you’. Joaquin, after the death of his son, comes to believe in god, but hates him.


 * Joaquin Morales was orphaned and all his family has died. he is very much alone.
 * Joaquin is estranged from Elena; he looks for forgiveness from her
 * 'You are all I have left, Elena,'p128
 * He has lost everyone and still attempts to behave happily
 * 'I've lost everyone I ever loved, and I've carried all of it with me forever......I'm still smiling, I'm still light on my feet, and the world is still a wonderful place.'p124
 * Feels guilt for killing Carlos Perez and the other eight 'incurables'- 'If I had to let him go...what was I to do?'p231, 'Not just the 'Fascist Father Confessor,' but the killer of killers.'p232
 * He kills as an act of mercy as the patients were not getting better but still feels guilty. in this way he is much like Talzani who also decides who lives and who dies.
 * Joaquin has never truly been sure that he did the right thing in killing the incurable patients, that he may have been able to help them- 'But I wasn't sure, my dear. I had to guess.'p231
 * He is called a 'fascist' and a 'criminal' for his work as a psychotherapist to treat traumatised officers