These critics demystify the figure of the president Floriano Peixoto (1891–1894), known as the Marechal de Ferro ("The Iron Marshal"), and also of the Brazilian military.
Quaresma is shown as a wise, but naïve nationalist who spent years of his life in private studies on Brazil.
Lima Barreto shows Quaresma's neighbors as pedant and mediocre people, a criticism of the urban society of late 19th century.
She appears to be a disinterested girl who thinks that the only purpose in life for a woman is to find a husband; her fiancé is a man who is lauded just because he finished college.
General Albernaz, who is a neighbor of Quaresma, is a miserable man: in spite of his high title, he never fought a single battle.
Quaresma's plan is soon put in action: he sends a requirement to the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies requesting a change in the official language of Brazil.
In addition, he sees himself dealing with the small mentality and defamation by the town's politicians and people, who cannot understand his political neutrality.
During the Second Naval Revolt (Segunda Revolta da Armada), Quaresma is finally disappointed by the crude reality of the Brazilian government.
In his squad, many of the soldiers had been forced to enlist, including his friend and guitar teacher, Ricardo Coração-dos-Outros (this character's last name is actually a pun, meaning "Heart-of-others").
In the end, all his projects failed: his attempt to make Tupi language official, the agricultural enterprise and his trust on the Brazilian government.