The Young and the Damned - Characters & Cast

Pedro's primary motivation is to win the affection and approval of his mother, who has rejected him. This desire drives his attempts to be good and find honest work.

Pedro begins as a member of Jaibo's gang, complicit in their crimes, but he possesses a conscience and a deep-seated desire for his mother's love and a better life. He attempts to reform by getting a job, but his connection to Jaibo and the murder of Julián repeatedly pulls him back into the cycle of violence. His journey is a tragic downward spiral, where his efforts to do good are thwarted at every turn, ultimately leading to his death.

Jaibo is motivated by a primal need for survival, power, and immediate gratification. He is a product of his brutal environment, and his actions are driven by a sociopathic lack of empathy and a desperate attempt to assert control in a world that has offered him nothing.

Jaibo escapes from a reformatory at the beginning of the film and immediately re-establishes his dominance over the local gang. He is a charismatic but ruthless figure who acts as the primary catalyst for the film's tragic events. His arc is one of escalating violence and cruelty, from petty theft to murder and betrayal. He shows no remorse and ultimately meets a violent end himself, a victim of the very system of brutality he perpetuates.

Her motivation appears to stem from deep-seated resentment and exhaustion. She sees Pedro not as a son to be loved, but as another burden in her difficult life.

Pedro's mother is consistently cold and rejecting towards him, seemingly blaming him for her hard life and possibly for being the product of a rape. While she shows a flicker of belief in his innocence late in the film, her initial and persistent lack of love is a key factor in Pedro's tragic fate. She remains a largely static character, embodying the lack of nurturing and hope in Pedro's life.

His primary motivations are survival and, later, revenge. He is embittered by his disability and his treatment by the children, and he seeks to impose his own form of justice.

Initially appearing as a helpless victim of the gang's cruelty, Don Carmelo reveals a more complex and sinister nature. He is lecherous towards the young Meche and filled with a desire for vengeance against the boys. His arc is one of a victim who becomes an instrument of retribution, ultimately playing a role in Jaibo's demise. He represents the idea that suffering does not necessarily ennoble, but can also lead to bitterness and cruelty.