Characters

Just as Alfred Hitchcock made furtive appearances in his films, Hergé couldn’t resist joining in the adventures of his characters. He discreetly drew himself into the scenery, appearing as a reporter dutifully taking notes when Tintin embarks for the Congo, or interviewing a local in front of the gates to Marlinspike Hall, in hope of gaining the latest on the story of the broken glass in The Calculus Affair. In Hergé’s universe, it’s hard to find a character that has been created from scratch: most were inspired by real people who were either close to the author in some way, historical figures or celebrities at the time.

Senhor Oliveira da Figueira

Name: Da Figueira
Surname: Oliveira
Occuopation: Travelling salesman

*Tintin in the Land of Black Gold* - page 41 vignette C2

Senhor Oliveira da Figueira usually lives in Lisbon, according to the Captain of the dhow that takes Tintin in during a storm in the Red Sea, at the beginning of Cigars of the Pharaoh. His first name is a common one in Portugal, and Figueira is the name of a town in the centre of the country. We soon discover his main characteristic: he's an unusual salesman.

As soon as he landed on the Arab coast, he used modern marketing techniques such as audio announcements and the promise of bonuses to attract the local population, who gave him the nickname of ‘Blanc-qui-vend-tout’ (‘White man who sells everything’). He is the magnificent peddler, the ultimate salesman, capable of selling the most incongruous objects while giving his victim the feeling of getting a good deal. His Dali-style crooked moustache reveals the particular care he takes to seduction. Oliveira is a wealthy trader with middle-aged spread.

Over the course of the adventures, Oliveira da Figueira has become close to Tintin, but he is also a cunning rogue.

Characters

From Abdullah to Zorrino

Senhor Oliveira da Figueira