Machado de Assis, Bras Cubas

I just finished Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas and wish to discuss. I understand how oblivious/non-reflective BC is (which is the object of the satire), but I also want to highlight other moments when he's paradoxically insightful, such as 1) when BC makes the observation that people are held hostage by public opinion which robs them of free will/acting in accordance with their desires, 2) when BC shares that some people in his social group excel at keeping others under surveillance and weaponize secrets, 3) when he observes that there's basically no logic/reason behind the tendency for things to happen in life and then for the exact opposite to occur (in the pattern of undulation of waves), and, of course, the most important realization 4) when he acknowledges that his life has amounted to absolutely nothing.

Point 4 lead me to ask: Why did this specter come across the void to tell us this story? I think the answer is this: Earlier in the book, BC told us that we--the readers--are the flaw in the book. We're in a big hurry to rush through the book, like we rush through life, seemingly to avoid confronting the reality of death. Then, later, BC reminds us that, at 50, we must acknowledge the inevitability of "oblivion." This means the book is an existential wake up call. However, it's puzzling to me that such an awful/depraved spokesperson should be the bearer of this important truth. Is BC supposed to be like one of the shades from Dante's Inferno who takes a moment out of eternal torment to teach us something?