Bento Santiago is madly in love with his neighbour, Capitú. He even breaks a promise his devout mother made to God - that he become a priest - in order to marry her. But, once wed, Bento becomes increasingly convinced that Capitú is having a torrid affair, that his son is not his own, and that his best friend has cuckolded him. What follows is a rich and sardonic narrative, as Bento attempts to di...