José Saramago: Themes of identity and morality in his literature

The literary works of Nobel Prize winner José Saramago explore profound themes of identity, morality, and social fragility. In ‘El cuento de la isla desconocida’, Saramago uses an allegorical tale of a man and a palace cleaner seeking an undiscovered island to reflect on perseverance, self-knowledge, and the courage to pursue personal dreams despite societal skepticism.

In his most famous work, ‘Ensayo sobre la ceguera’, Saramago employs a sudden epidemic of blindness as a metaphor for moral and intellectual blindness within society. The novel depicts a city collapsing under the weight of selfishness and the loss of empathy, while highlighting the potential for human solidarity through characters like the doctor’s wife, who maintains her sight to guide others.