Visualizing Unhappiness: A Scene of Domestic Tension

The scene opens with a description of a man who embodies physical solidity and emotional restraint. He is characterized by his size and the dark Sunday suit he wears, which suggests a formal or significant occasion. However, his posture betrays a state of inner turmoil. His lips are 'prietos' (pursed) around a freshly lit cigarette, a detail that conveys stress and a tight control over his emotions. The image of his fists clenched deep in his pockets further underscores this tension, implying a struggle to contain his feelings or impulses. He is a figure of contained energy, sitting at a table that should be a place of communion but instead serves as a barrier.

The man's defining feature in this narrative is his gaze. It is described not merely as a look, but as a force—a 'línea visible' (visible line) that has a specific trajectory. This line of sight is pointedly not at his wife. Instead, it grazes her shoulder at most, a glancing, dismissive contact, before continuing its path toward the restaurant's window. This direction of gaze is a powerful symbol of his disinterest and emotional withdrawal. He is physically present but mentally and emotionally absent, looking for an escape route or distraction rather than engaging with the person directly in front of him.

While the man is described in vivid detail, the woman is presented more simply as the silent counterpart in this tableau. She is seated 'frente a él' (opposite him), placing her directly in the path of his disengaged gaze. Her role in the scene is largely defined by her relationship to him and his actions. She is the intended recipient of his attention, yet she receives none. The description notes that his gaze would 'rozar el hombro de su mujer' (graze the shoulder of his wife), a touch that is hypothetical and cold. It suggests a proximity without intimacy, a physical presence without emotional connection.

The woman's position highlights the central conflict of the scene: coexistence without communication. She is a silent observer of his tension, his smoking, and his averted eyes. The narrative does not describe her expression or posture, leaving her as a figure defined by the emotional space her husband has created around her. Her silence amplifies the man's brooding presence, making her an essential part of the composition even without detailed description. She represents the ignored party in a domestic stalemate.

The environment plays a crucial role in framing this intimate moment. The couple is situated in a restaurant setting, a public space often associated with shared meals and conversation. Yet, the description emphasizes the privacy of their isolation. The key environmental element is the 'ventanal' (large window) that illuminates the scene. This window is significant because it exists 'fuera de plano' (out of frame), meaning it is visible to the man but not to the reader. It serves as a symbol of the world outside, a place of escape or distraction that holds the man's attention more than his wife.

The light from the window creates a dramatic spotlight on the couple, yet the view itself is denied to the observer. This creates a sense of voyeurism and deepens the mystery of the man's fixation. The window represents an alternative focus, a line of sight that leads away from the relationship and into the external world. It is the destination of his 'visible line' of gaze, cementing the idea that he is looking for something beyond the confines of his current situation and partnership.