Humans subconsciously form connections with and are drawn to those they see as similar to them.  Antonio Tabucchi uses this idea to form the complex relationship between Pereira and Monteiro Rossi.  Pereira, an overweight and depressed man, enlists the help of Rossi to write obituaries for his paper The Lisboa. Throughout this process, the bond between Rossi and Pereira grows and Pereira begins to look at Rossi as more of a son, rather than a colleague.  Tabucchi makes this this relationship apparent to the reader through his use of language.

The introduction of Monteiro Rossi in chapter three brings about an all around happier tone to the story.  Chapter three begins with what seems like the first happy moment for Pereira thus far: “because the music, in spite of all, was a pleasure to him” (10).  Before this point, nothing seemed to make Pereira feel any sort of happiness or pleasure.  Even though Rossi has not yet been introduced, this passage indicates a change in mood and sets the stage for the introduction of Rossi so that the reader’s expectations are already higher for a happier couple of chapters.  This tactic used by Tabucchi proves to be even more affective once Rossi is actually introduced to the story.

The introduction of Rossi into the story is a turning point in the story for Pereira.  Rossi seems to bring happiness to Pereira that he did not feel before, even before Pereira was aware that it was Rossi: 

and all the while this young man was singing the sea-breeze was rising again from the Atlantic and the evening was cool, and everything seemed to him lovely, his past life of which he declines to speak, and Lisbon, and the vault of the sky above the coloured lights, and he felt great nostalgia, did Pereira, but he declined to say for what. (11)

This passage is referring to one of the first encounters between Pereira and Rossi.  Tabucchi uses the word “lovely” to describe how Pereira is feeling in the moment that he is hearing Rossi sing.  Again, the dramatic change in word choice, from words pertaining to sadness and death to word pertaining to happiness and contentment, subconsciously creates a connection in the reader’s mind between Pereira and Rossi. The use of happier language in this passage is especially striking to me because in the beginning of the novel, Tabucchi paints a similar picture of a beautiful setting, but Pereira is thinking about death.  In extreme contrast to the beginning of the story, Pereira is content, further putting an emphasis on the relationship that is about to form between Pereira and Rossi. 

Tabucchi also elaborates on the relationship between Pereira and Rossi through his use of repetition.  The use of repetition in this story symbolizes what is to come next.  By repeating phrases such as “Pereira declares” and in some cases, “Pereira wanted to say” (27), are a powerful tool used by Tabucchi in order to put emphasis on a situation or phrase.  This tool puts in emphasis on the relationship between Pereira and Rossi when used to describe, in a certain scene, why Pereira was sweating so much: 

Pereira declares that as he was saying this he felt a tickle of sweat running down his spine. Why was he sweating? Heaven knows… maybe also because his heart was touched by the sight of that youngster looking at him with an air of amazement and disappointment. (23)

This passage is significant to the relationship between Pereira and Rossi for many reasons. Tabucchi’s use of the phrase “Pereira declares”, a commonly reoccurring phrase throughout the story, serves as an emphasis to the events and feelings in this passage.  This phrase, to me, also signifies that something is to come.  The importance of this phrase being placed at the beginning of this passage emphasizes how Pereira is feeling about Rossi.  Tabucchi’s usage of the phrase “his heart was touched” (23) is also very significant, especially following “Pereira declares”.  Before Pereira meets Rossi, the only thing that seemed to touch the heart of Pereira was the picture of his dead wife and the thought of death.  The fact that Pereira is now openly admitting to Rossi touching his heart is big advancement in the relationship between the pair. This is also another example of Tabucchi introducing the use of a happier, more light-hearted tone to the story with the introduction of Rossi to Pereira.  Both of these elements combined in this passage helped me to realize that Pereira really is started to see Rossi as more of a son, rather than a burden.

Although the relationship between Pereira and Monteiro Rossi is supposed to be a professional relationship for the purposes of writing for The Lisboa, it becomes apparent that Pereira begins to think of Rossi as more of a son.  Tabucchi not only makes this apparent through textual evidence, but also through subtler ways, such as the use of happier language and the use of repetition.  Relationships, such as the one seen between Rossi and Pereira, are often times made without either person recognizing that it is happening.  This is due to the subconscious reflection of oneself in the other. 

  