# Manuel Garcia — Short Fiction character guide

> Manuel Garcia in Short Fiction by Ernest Hemingway.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** The Undefeated Manuel Garcia, Manuel

**First appearance:** 0056-the-undefeated

## Snapshot

A washed-up bullfighter with a pinned coleta and a hospital limp, climbing Retana's stairs to beg for one more corrida.

## Who they are

Manuel Garcia arrives at Retana's office carrying his suitcase, freshly out of the hospital, and asks for work in a trade that has already written him off. Under the stuffed head of the bull that killed his brother, he negotiates for a place on Sunday's card. His stubborn insistence on dignity — and his awareness of what the crowd will say — drives the story's slow, fatal pressure.

## Relationships

### [Zurito](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_15_se/characters/zurito)

_professional_

Manuel Garcia and Zurito are bullfighting colleagues, with Zurito often serving as Manuel's picador and trusted ally in the ring.

### [Don Miguel Retana](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_15_se/characters/don_miguel_retana)

_professional_

Don Miguel Retana is a bullfighting promoter or manager who employs and negotiates with Manuel Garcia.

### [Zurito](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_15_se/characters/zurito)

_professional_

Manuel Garcia and Zurito are bullfighting colleagues, with Zurito often serving as Manuel's picador and trusted ally in the ring.

### [Don Miguel Retana](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_15_se/characters/don_miguel_retana)

_professional_

Don Miguel Retana is a bullfighting promoter or manager who employs and negotiates with Manuel Garcia.

### [Don Miguel Retana](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_15_se/characters/don_miguel_retana)

_professional_

Don Miguel Retana is a bullfighting promoter or manager who employs and negotiates with Manuel Garcia.

### [Zurito](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_15_se/characters/zurito)

_professional_

Manuel Garcia and Zurito are bullfighting colleagues, with Zurito often serving as Manuel's picador and trusted ally in the ring.

## In the story

### [In Our Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_15_se/chapters/in-our-time)

A bullfighter facing defeat and the absurdity of his profession.

### [The Undefeated](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_15_se/chapters/the-undefeated)

The protagonist, a bullfighter recently out of the hospital, preparing for and executing his faena in the ring.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_15_se/characters/manuel_garcia
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_15_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_15_se/characters