04_Biblica_1_A_Ossandon_Layout 1 05/11/12 12:18 Pagina 389 389 BARTIMAEUS’ FAITH not create tension, because this program is closed at once: they go out of the city. The second verb (“was sitting”) indicates a situation. The presentation concentrates on Bartimaeus, who receives a considerable amount of attention with respect to the other charac- ters. His name has no relevance for the plot of resolution, i.e. noth- ing would have changed if the narrator had omitted it. On the other hand, Bartimaeus’ description as “a blind beggar” does offer essen- tial information in order to understand the development of the plot of resolution, as is evident. The description of his spatial situation, “sitting by the roadside”, can also be explained in terms of the plot of resolution: later, he will spring up (10,50) and at the end he will follow Jesus “on the way” (v. 52c). The action properly starts with Bartimaeus crying out (v. 47). This is the narrative program that causes the plot to start ― technically, the “contract” ― because his plea for mercy can be accepted or re- fused by Jesus and the reader wonders what is going to happen. Thus we can correctly speak of a plot of resolution. The opposition of “many” to Bartimaeus’ action (v. 48) appears as an obstacle or “complication” to the accomplishment of the con- tract. Its narrative function consists in delaying the denouement in order to increase the dramatic tension. When Jesus commands the disciples to call the blind man (v. 49), the first complication disappears, but the plot continues, because the reader does not know if Bartimaeus will accept the call; he could feel disappointed by the fact that Jesus does not come to him and then refuse to go. The narrative program of calling Bartimaeus finishes very soon, when he comes with celerity (v. 50). But a certain tension remains, be- cause we do not know if he will obtain what he has asked for. Jesus’ question in 10,51 does not imply the acceptance of the con- tract yet, but it opens instead a new narrative program. It is not a rhetor- ical question, simply addressed to establish contact. In fact, in the foregoing episode, an identical question (10,36) ended with the rejection of the corresponding petition. Jesus desires to know the content of Bar- timaeus’ wish in order to decide whether he will satisfy it or not 31. The expression of Bartimaeus’ wish in 10,51b reformulates the initial contract, by specifying its content: the mercy he was search- ing for is not money, but concerned recovering sight. Accordingly, 31 J. DELORME, “Guérison d’un aveugle?”, Unité chrétienne 73-74 (1984) 8-18, esp. 11-12.