Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Uncle Eliseo

Though his lessons are subtle, Uncle Eliseo takes up mentor duties and tries to teach Guido those life lessons. A man of poise and grace, Eliseo takes his nephew under his wing and offers him a job as a maître at the hotel.

He teaches Guido to have pride in himself and his life: "You're serving. You're not a servant. Serving is a supreme art. God is the first servant. God serves men, but he's not a servant to men."

But Eliseo also sees the dangers of Italian politics in his day and tries to warn Guido about them. For example, after his horse is graffitied, he tells Guido, "No. They didn't do it to…they did it 'to.' You'll have to get used to it, Guido. They'll start with you, too."

He even teaches by example. While he's being taken to the gas chamber to be killed, he sees a Nazi officer trip and offers her a hand up, which she scornfully brushes away. Given his intelligence, we assume he knows what's about to happen to him, but he still keeps his grace, dignity, and humanity.