Isaac Monfort Character Analysis in The Shadow of the Wind

Isaac is the keeper of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, as well as Nuria’s father. He’s grouchy and affectionate towards Daniel, but his estranged relationship with his daughter is one of many strained parent-child relationships in the novel, and a reminder of the importance of valuing and accepting one’s own family.

Isaac Monfort Character Timeline in The Shadow of the Wind

The timeline below shows where the character Isaac Monfort appears in The Shadow of the Wind. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...streets. Stopping at a large, forbidding door, Mr. Sempere knocks until a small man named Isaac answers. Mr. Sempere introduces Daniel as his son and the future inheritor of his bookshop. (full context)

Fathers, Sons, and Masculinity Theme Icon

When Isaac answers the door, Daniel confides that he needs to hide the book from someone who... (full context)

In his office, Isaac says that he first heard of Carax from his friend Toni Cabestany, a Spanish publisher... (full context)

Daniel asks about Carax’s family, and Isaac says that the parents were separated for unknown reasons. His mother moved to South America... (full context)

Possessive and Obsessive Love Theme Icon

...close to his family Carax might have visited Nuria when he returned to Barcelona, but Isaac says he wouldn’t know. Because Nuria won’t say much about her friendship with Carax, he... (full context)

Daniel asks if he can talk to Nuria, and Isaac admits that his own relationship with his daughter is rocky. He believes she’s married to... (full context)

...husband is in prison for politically subversive activities, but that Daniel shouldn’t repeat this to Isaac. Meanwhile she supports herself with difficulty by doing translation work. (full context)

...Carax when she was working for Cabestany’s publishing house in Paris. She says that although Isaac has probably said she chased Carax “like a bitch in heat,” they were just friends,... (full context)

...to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, so they walk there, and Daniel convinces a skeptical Isaac to let Bea in. Daniel shows Bea the place where he has hidden The Shadow... (full context)

...to the cemetery to attend Nuria’s funeral. He finds her neighbors in attendance but not Isaac. The policeman who pulled him away from the bus is also there. When he’s about... (full context)

Daniel returns to Nuria’s apartment, where he finds Isaac Monfort going through her belongings and crying. He talks about their estrangement and regrets all... (full context)

Isaac tells Daniel that Nuria came to see him the day before she died and gave... (full context)