Freedom to be a Hero

In class today many of the other students felt that Dr. Nagel was not deserving of praise for rescuing Astrée; rather, they believed him to be boring when compared with the talented Don Pedro. Although it is true that Dr. Nagel may be somewhat bland when pitted against Don Pedro, I do not believe he was intended to come out as boring or unworthy of the audience’s praise. I believe that the director chose to focus on Dr. Nagel’s worth against that of his companion, Dr. Gomez, from Brazil. Dr. Nagel spends the majority of his time in the company of Dr. Gomez, and interacts very little with Don Pedro. The audience has no choice but to focus on the strength and status of Dr. Nagel when he is in a room with Dr. Gomez. For example, when the two men are in their hotel room in Puerto Rico, Dr. Nagel is the man giving orders to Dr. Gomez and instructing him on how to work on the cure for the fever. This scene functions as proof to the audience that Dr. Nagel is in charge and has the strength to complete the tasks set before him.

One contradiction the audience is witness to is Dr. Nagel’s behavior following the receipt of an invitation to Don Pedro’s house. Dr. Nagel becomes overly excited, running around the room and focusing on his appearance rather than his work on the cure for the fever. The only explanation I can find for this change in behavior is that the audience is supposed to see Dr. Nagel’s love for Astrée. While Don Pedro is solemn in his adoration for her at the beginning of the movie, Dr. Nagel is wildly ecstatic about the possibility of even being in the same house with the woman he loves. The audience never sees Don Pedro in anything less than his full suit whereas Dr. Nagel can be disheveled. This theory is further supported by Dr. Nagel’s interactions with Juan. While Don Pedro does not take a role in raising his son, Dr. Nagel is immediately drawn to the boy and plays with him on the sled. Dr. Nagel is a family man, with no qualms about openly showing his affection. This is not a weakness, but a strength that Don Pedro does not have. In the end, it is the freedom Dr. Nagel has to show his feelings that make him the true hero.