Godchild of a wealthy baroness, by whom she was supported in a teachers' college, Guiomar was a simple girl who was orphaned early but had the strength to fight for what she wanted. She used reason to control her heart. Possessing beauty and an attractive demeanor, she piqued the interest of three men: Estêvão [sentimental], Jorge [calculating], and Luís Alves [ambitious].
Estêvão: he was sentimental, frivolous, naive, superficial, insecure, yet sincere. He would love any woman who aroused some interest in him. He placed no value on himself and for that reason deserved Guiomar's preference.
The two were together for some time, until he went to study Law and Social Sciences in São Paulo. During this period, he suffered greatly,
even thought of killing himself, and after some time in São Paulo, he thought he would forget Guiomar, but he was mistaken.
After graduating, he returned and stayed at Luís Alves's house. One morning, the two recognize each other and exchange a few words. But destiny did not belong to him.
Jorge: he was weak in character, selfish, and proud of himself. He was the nephew of Guiomar's godmother. Economic advantages attracted him to her.
Luís Alves: he was cold and reserved, not revealing his feelings or desires to anyone. He was calculating, waiting for the right moment to make his move. He was a friend of Estêvão and a neighbor of Guiomar. He decides on Guiomar, but only when he is certain he will not be discarded. The two get married.
Although clearly romantic, "A Mão e a Luva" is a sober novel. Its highlights are the female characters: Guiomar for the complexity of her character, and Mrs. Oswald for her cunning and verisimilitude.
The novel revolves around a complicated, but simply and predictably resolved, courtship within the strictest bourgeois schemes.
The book's title comes from the marriage of Guiomar and Luís Alves, who fit together like a hand in a glove, being perfectly suited for each other.
