# Manoel Valdez — The Giant Raft character guide > Manoel Valdez in The Giant Raft by Jules Verne. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Manoel, Manoel, Manoel Valdez, Mr. Manoel Valdez, Neither Manoel **First appearance:** 0003-iii-the-garral-family ## Snapshot A young physician and Minha's devoted fiancé, whose quiet vigilance makes him the first to sense the danger Torres brings aboard. ## Who they are Manoel is the steady, observant counterweight to Benito's impulsiveness, a doctor engaged to Minha Garral and welcomed into the family as a son. From the moment Torres appears, Manoel distrusts him, noting the man's shifting eyes and calculating manner while the others extend hospitality. His loyalty and clear sight make him the family's quiet guardian as the voyage downriver grows increasingly perilous. ## Relationships ### [Benito Garral](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/characters/benito_garral) _friendship_ Benito and Manoel are close friends and allies, often working together to protect the Garral family. ### [Joam Garral](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/characters/joam_garral) _family_ Manoel is engaged to Joam's daughter Minha, making him a future son-in-law and trusted family member. ### [Torres](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/characters/torres) _rivalry_ Manoel opposes Torres as a threat to his fiancée's family and joins efforts to expose his villainy. ### [Joam Dacosta](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/characters/joam_dacosta) _friendship_ Joam Dacosta, the wrongly accused man, bonds with Manoel as a fellow ally in seeking justice. ### [Padre Passanha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/characters/padre_passanha) _friendship_ Manoel respects Padre Passanha as a wise elder and spiritual guide, especially regarding his upcoming marriage. ### [Fragoso](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/characters/fragoso) _friendship_ Fragoso and Manoel are friendly allies, with Fragoso often supporting Manoel's efforts to help the Garral family. ### [Judge Jarriquez](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/characters/judge_jarriquez) _professional_ Judge Jarriquez interacts with Manoel in a formal legal capacity during the investigation of the case. ### [Benito Garral](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/characters/benito_garral) _friendship_ Benito and Manoel are close friends and allies, often working together to protect the Garral family. ### [Benito Garral](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/characters/benito_garral) _friendship_ Benito and Manoel are close friends and allies, often working together to protect the Garral family. ### [Torres](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/characters/torres) _rivalry_ Manoel opposes Torres as a threat to his fiancée's family and joins efforts to expose his villainy. ### [Joam Dacosta](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/characters/joam_dacosta) _friendship_ Joam Dacosta, the wrongly accused man, bonds with Manoel as a fellow ally in seeking justice. ### [Joam Dacosta](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/characters/joam_dacosta) _friendship_ Joam Dacosta, the wrongly accused man, bonds with Manoel as a fellow ally in seeking justice. ## In the story ### [Part I: Eight Hundred Leagues on the Amazon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/part-i-eight-hundred-leagues-on-the-amazon) Minha's fiancé, accompanying the family on the voyage. ### [Robber and Robbed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/ii-robber-and-robbed) Manoel is the other young hunter, an assistant surgeon in the Brazilian army. He fires the shot that kills the guariba, thereby recovering Torres' stolen case. He introduces himself and Benito to Torres. ### [The Garral Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/iii-the-garral-family) Friend of Benito, a young medical officer, son of a merchant in Pará, attached to Minha. ### [IV: Hesitation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/iv-hesitation) In love with Minha and supports the plan to marry in Belém to introduce her to his mother. ### [The Amazon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/v-the-amazon) Joins Benito in praising the river's volume and navigability. ### [A Forest on the Ground](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/vi-a-forest-on-the-ground) Divides his time between the house and the clearing, though he would prefer a quicker means of travel. ### [Following a Liana](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/vii-following-a-liana) Accompanies Minha and engages in playful banter with Benito. ### [VIII: The Jangada](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/viii-the-jangada) Engages in the playful conversation about transforming the raft into a floating garden and gives Minha a nosegay. ### [The Evening of the Fifth of June](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/ix-the-evening-of-the-fifth-of-june) Present with the Garral family as they await the raft's floating. ### [From Iquitos to Pevas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/x-from-iquitos-to-pevas) Converses with Minha about the islands and their names, showing his affection and interest in her. ### [From Pevas to the Frontier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/xi-from-pevas-to-the-frontier) Tells the tragic story of Madame Odonais; warns about the mosquitoes of Loreto. ### [Fragoso at Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/xii-fragoso-at-work) Has previously set foot in a Brazilian town; mentioned with respect by Fragoso. ### [Torres](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/xiii-torres) Observes Torres with suspicion but does not object to offering him passage. ### [XIV: Still Descending](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/xiv-still-descending) He accompanies Benito on the hunt and discusses the phenomenon of the black waters of the Amazon tributaries with Minha. ### [XV: The Continued Descent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/xv-the-continued-descent) Manoel discusses the history of female warriors among the Juruás and explains the dangers of vampire bats to Minha and Lina. ### [XVI: Ega](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/xvi-ega) Accompanies the family to Ega, expresses dislike for Torres and defends Minha's simple dress. ### [An Attack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/xvii-an-attack) Confronts Benito about Torres's attentions to Minha; agrees to keep watch; rushes to find Minha during the cayman attack. ### [XVIII: The Arrival Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/xviii-the-arrival-dinner) Talks mostly with Minha; watches Torres and tries to counter the unease he creates. ### [Ancient History](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/xix-ancient-history) Manoel agrees with Benito that Torres must leave at Manaus, showing his concern for the family's safety. ### [XX: Between the Two Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/xx-between-the-two-men) Learns the full truth about Joam Dacosta's innocence and the blackmail, and accepts Joam as his father, agreeing to marry Minha the next day. ### [II: The First Moments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/ii-the-first-moments) Reveals he knows Joam Dacosta is innocent and stands by Minha despite her father's arrest. ### [Retrospective](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/iii-retrospective) The young army doctor in love with Minha; his desire to marry her prompts Joam to seek rehabilitation. ### [VI: The Last Blow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/vi-the-last-blow) Accompanies Benito in the search for Torres and acts as his second in the duel. ### [Resolutions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/vii-resolutions) Urges Benito to act, deduces that the metal case Torres carried likely contains the exonerating document, and organizes the search. ### [VIII: The First Search](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/viii-the-first-search) Supports Benito and coordinates the search, sharing his anxiety but maintaining hope. ### [IX: The Second Attempt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/ix-the-second-attempt) Proposes using a diving-dress and explains the science of body buoyancy; concerned for Benito's safety. ### [X: A Cannon Shot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/x-a-cannon-shot) Advises Benito on diving safety and waits anxiously on the raft. ### [XI: The Contents of the Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/xi-the-contents-of-the-case) Insists on proper legal procedure when recovering the case from Torres's corpse, ensuring witnesses are present. He remains calm and rational throughout. ### [The Document](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/xii-the-document) Accompanies Benito to the prison and participates in the effort to decipher the document. ### [XIII: Is It a Matter of Figures?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/xiii-is-it-a-matter-of-figures) Visits Judge Jarriquez seeking hope for deciphering the document, but leaves feeling hopeless after the judge's explanation. ### [XV: The Last Efforts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/xv-the-last-efforts) Actively works to decipher the document and supports Benito, preventing his suicide. ### [XVI: Preparations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/xvi-preparations) Assists Benito in planning the escape and visits Judge Jarriquez to check for news. ### [The Last Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/xvii-the-last-night) Supports Benito in the escape attempt and urges Joam to flee, but respects Joam's decision when the execution order arrives. ### [XX: The Lower Amazon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/chapters/xx-the-lower-amazon) Points out the Sierras to the family; marries Minha Garral. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/characters/manoel_valdez - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_giant_raft_se/characters