English & Literature

Who is Second Lieutenant Alberto Santana from Captain Pantoja and the Special Service and what is their importance? Captain_Pantoja_and_the_Special_Service English & Literature Second Lieutenant Alberto Santana | Captain Pantoja and the Special Service

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Pantaleón Pantoja is a career officer in the Peruvian Army. Pantoja lives with his wife, Pocha, and his mother, Leonor. Both women dote on Captain Pantoja and he enjoys his traditional role as head of the household and sole provider. During the course of the narrative, Pantoja and his wife have a daughter named Gladys. Pantoja is a by-the-book soldier who never questions his superiors. Much to his credit, he can always be called upon to complete an assignment on time and to the glowing satisfaction of his superiors. Very much a "company man" type, Pantoja's self-effacing demeanor is often mistaken for gullibility. Pantaleón Pantoja is something of a prude. A teetotaler and early riser, Pantoja's personality undergoes a startling change when he becomes fully involved in the running of the Special Service. Caught up in the world of the flesh, Pantoja eventually succumbs to his baser instincts and engages in a steamy love affair with a well-known prostitute: Olga Arellano Rosaura (aka "The Brazilian"). The prostitutes under his command in the Special Service refer to Captain Pantoja as "Mr. Pan-Pan." Pantaleón Pantoja also suffers from hemorrhoids.