Nobility and Heroism

Valor and heroism go hand in hand. Heroes are known for their brave efforts despite the existence of opposition. However, when determining which figure from La Habanera, either Sven Nagel or Don Pedro, is the film’s hero, it is imperative to consider the role that nobility plays in heroic acts. Furthermore, one must equally emphasize nobility and bravery, in order to avoid being misled by the film’s aesthetic manipulations. Although the good looks of Don Pedro, combined with his outward masculinity, make him appear to be the film’s hero at various parts, Dr. Sven Nagel is ultimately the film’s hero, due to his underrated bravery and his honorable behavior. This idea is supported by arguments in favor of Dr. Nagel, as well as arguments against Don Pedro. Focusing on a single scene from the film will help to explain this argument, so let’s consider the scene toward the end of the film, in which Don Pedro collapses and dies from the Puerto Rican Fever.

Heroes stand for noble causes. Although Don Pedro appears to be a perfect gentleman early on in the film, he quickly transforms to be a controlling figure that suppresses his wife and uses his power to hinder medical developments which could save innocent lives on his island. Shortly before dying, he hears the song La Habanera, and then praises his wife for her singing ability, emphasizing how happy she has made him. Although his words may initially appear to positively represent him, their true nature becomes more apparent after closer inspection. He is only happy because she succumbed to his will; although she has been longing to go home and leave Puerto Rico, she decides to sing a song that she knows will please him. His kindness appears only after he has been served, in a way, from his wife, and has little to do with his moral fiber. Don Pedro’s nobility is better reflected later in the scene, when he is hit with the fever. He falls to the ground and is unable to receive treatment because he has destroyed all progress made by the Dr. Nagel and Dr. Gomez. There is no honor in this act, and he dies a mere martyr, rather than a heroic figure in the film.

Dr. Nagel, on the other hand, lacks some of the valor that Don Pedro so regularly displays. He is simply wimpier. But valor is not the only measurement of heroism. Dr. Nagel wants to help cure the fever. He comes to the island in hopes in doing just that, and also to win back the heart of the one he let get away. Returning to the scene in which Don Pedro dies, we see Nagel’s nobility stand out in contrast to Don Pedro’s moral inferiority. Despite knowing that Don Pedro has been working against him since his arrival and wants him arrested, the honorable Sven Nagel rushes to help save Don Pedro’s life as soon as he see him collapse. He orders others several times to go get the cure, and only after he hears the news about what has happened does he give up trying to save his nemesis, declaring that he “dug his own grave.” Dr. Nagel tries his best throughout the movie to help the Puerto Ricans against the ferocious fever. Although he lacks the dashing nature that Don Pedro has, Dr. Nagel is undoubtedly the film’s hero. He is brave enough to conduct experiments despite knowing that doing so puts himself in danger, and is noble enough to try and save the very man that wanted him stopped, all the while winning back his long lost love. The saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” certainly comes to mind here, as the characters outward appearance leads one to unjustly conclude that Don Pedro is the hero, when, in fact, the hero is Dr. Nagel.