La figura dell'interprete in "Corazón tan blanco" di Javier Marías

The job of a conference interpreter in its entirety is not widely known. Most people are unaware of what it means to work as an interpreter. Why is this so? Over time, this profession has been described using various stereotypes that seek to over-generalise the job and undermine the image an interpreter truly holds. This has caused interpreters to become virtually invisible to the public eye, unseen players in the intercultural communication process that they work to establish. Nevertheless, there are some cases in which these undetectable individuals suddenly become noticed. This is when interpreters are fully represented in works of art. In this dissertation, I will provide you with a general description of how the interpreter is described in movies and novels, and then continue to focus on Javier Marías’ novel Corazón tan blanco. I will analyse the various elements of the novel in detail that can relate to interpreting directly or indirectly, using theories of interpreting studies to establish my overall claim. The comparison between Marías’ fictional interpreter and the reality of interpreting provides a multitude of insights on how an interpreter is perceived and can ultimately lead to a stronger understanding of the overall profession. The harsh parody provided by Marías doesn’t have the intention of impairing the interpreter’s image, it utilises a character deeply linked to languages in order to investigate how words, lies and secrets have the capability of affecting people’s everyday lives.