
When living amongst heavily armed militia men and being under the rule of a strong fascist government, one better watch what they say.  Throughout Antonio Tabucchi’s “Pereira Declares”, Pereira, the main character, is constantly worrying about who might be listening in on what he is saying.  Not to say that what he is talking about is frowned upon, well maybe his government thinks otherwise; nevertheless, Tabucchi makes it very clear in his piece that Pereira has a difficult time expressing himself; this being the reason why this novel’s name is “Pereira Declares”.

Being stranded alone since the death of his wife, Pereira has been trapped with his lonely and depressing thoughts, and constantly struggles with them.  Tabucchi uses a great deal of repetition to engrave in the reader’s mind that Pereira is going through a very tough time of his life.  One example of this repetition is when Tabucchi states: “in front of the bookcase, on which stood a photograph of his wife.  He had taken that photo himself, in Nineteen Twenty-Seven… and a dab of the Spanish scent remaining in a flask he had bought in Madrid in Nineteen Twenty-Seven” (8).  With these tough times comes Pereira’s contemplation of death.  It is ironic however, how he considers death in such a serious manner, yet he has so many questions about death, for Pereira pronounces, “it seems to me that the whole world is dead or on the point of death” (8).  With this pessimistic remark, one could only assume that he was ready to just jump off of a bridge, however, Pereira contradicts himself many times throughout the novel having moods that range from being on top of the world to being six feet under.  One thing that Pereira reiterates many times and contemplates on rigorously is the idea of the resurrection of the body.  Being a Roman Catholic one might assume that he believed in all of the guidelines following that religion, yet Pereira thinks very differently.

Another eye-opening literary device Tabucchi incorporates in his writing is his use of symbolic diction.  The title of the novel is “Pereira Declares”, and it is that because Pereira has such a hard time expressing himself, and does not feel comfortable sharing his hardship with anyone other than himself.  For Tabucchi even writes: “Pereira declares that for some time past he had been in the habit of talking to this photo of his wife.  He told it what he had done during the day confided his thoughts with to it” (8).  Tabucchi uses the word “Declares” in the title because it evokes a connotation of demanding attention and forced listening; this being what Pereira is trying to accomplish the entire time.  Even so, it is quite ironic how Pereira is so confined, yet makes too many declarations to count.  As Tabucchi states, “Pereira felt a pang of melancholy, he declares, as he weighted those words.  He realized that they were indeed alone, that there was no one about to share their anxieties with” (25).  This meaning that Pereira exclaims his internal conflict with the reader, but other characters in the novel are completely blind to what he is going through.  

Lastly, while reading this novel, be sure to keen in on Pereira’s relationship with Rossi.  Accompanied by Rossi’s presence is his talent to uplift Pereira’s outlook on life, by being the son that Pereira never had.  While accompanying Pereira at the Salazarist Youth Festival, Rossi tells Pereira that, “I do seriously need work and am willing to write advance obituaries for all the writers you ask for … It was then, Pereira declares, that he felt a sudden surge of pride” (18).  This line clearly stands out to the reader because it is one of the first few times that Pereira expresses that he is feeling any sense of joy.  Making Rossi the new light in Pereira’s heart following the death of his wife.

Pereira, throughout this literary work, struggles with many internal conflicts including: depression, death, love loss, political hardship, and his work.  All of these things are built up inside of Pereira and he “declares” to not share his battle and feelings with anyone.  This resulting in his racing thoughts and contemplation of suicide.  With all of this going on, the introduction of Rossi in this story is what truly saves Pereira’s desolate mind from complete and utter darkness.
