 The main character, Baltasar, born in Mafra, works in the construction of the palace(He does not work in the construction of the palace.He was born in Mafra and during the events of the novel he returns to it and witnesses some of the early stages of the construction before leaving again to Lisbon).Saramago makes a detailed description of the building process, including the transport of a giant stone from the quarry to the building site, depicting it as a torture for those who helped build the palace.