Luciano Character Analysis

Luciano is the second-oldest brother in Carlos’s family. At the beginning of the book, he is away completing a three-year service in the Philippine Scouts, a native detachment of the occupying United States Army. Luciano is honorably discharged from the service at age 20 but is diagnosed with tuberculosis. When Luciano returns home, he proves to be another formative influence on Carlos, who admires his brother’s “wide experience” in the world. Luciano, for example, is the first member of the family to see automobiles and motorcycles when they arrive in Binalonan. In one of the book’s most important passages, Luciano shows Carlos how to find beauty amidst suffering despair by teaching him how to snare different kinds of birds without harming them. Together, the brothers catch crying birds and vibrantly colored parrots, which they keep in the family home. Despite growing up in poverty and struggling daily to survive, Luciano teaches Carlos to appreciate the “esthetic pleasure” the birds provide through their very presence. Through Luciano’s influence, Carlos learns that beauty is intrinsically valuable, and this knowledge allows him to appreciate beauty even during the most dire and depressing moments of his life. Luciano eventually becomes mayor of Binalonan and tells Carlos he must always read “good books.” He also teaches Carlos that the world has more to offer than his immediate surroundings. Luciano eventually dies of tuberculosis.