A recurring theme is the absolute failure of language [3]. Castel’s obsession with linguistic subtleties—demonstrated by Sábato’s use of italicized segments and erratic capitalization—highlights his inability to bridge the gap between his internal reality and the outside world [3]. His paranoia stems from the fact that words are never enough to prove María’s devotion or transparency, leading him to draw pseudo-logical conclusions based on mere coincidence [14]. Existentialism and Comparative Analysis
However, Castel’s tragedy lies in his realization that their "tunnels" never truly merged. While he sought exclusive possession to end his isolation, María remained a separate, enigmatic entity [5]. This leads to his ultimate disappointment and the violent conclusion that his "tunnel" was always solitary. The Failure of Communication El Tunel
The title itself is the novel’s central metaphor. Castel believes he is traveling through a lonely and dark tunnel , hermetically sealed off from the rest of society [14]. He briefly believes María Iribarne is a fellow traveler in a parallel tunnel who can truly understand him because she noticed a small, ignored detail in his painting Maternidad —a window looking out onto a lonely beach [2, 13]. A recurring theme is the absolute failure of language [3]
