The Shadow of the Wind-Week 4, Post A

There is a division between what is acceptable based on wealth and social standing and not on character. A person's character is often second to where they are in the class system in this culture. In the novel, Daniel is falling for his best friend Tomas's older sister, Bea. Bea is currently engaged to her boyfriend of a few years who serves in the military. His service in the military places him high on the social pyramid. From Bea's responses to questions about her fiance, I am getting the impression that she would prefer not to marry him. It seems she is only marrying him to stick to the status quo. I am also under the impression that she is reciprocating Daniel's feelings and falling for him as well. Daniel, however is not wealthy, nor is his family "socially acceptable" to the standards of the upper middle class in Barcelona. The Semperes own a small bookshop which Daniel works for. He cannot comete with a man who is serving in the military. I am interested to see if Daniel follows his heart and seeks Bea or if he will deem to accept that he cannot compare to her fiance.