Evolution of 20th Century Spanish Narrative and Delibes

Stages of 20th Century Spanish Narrative

The Second Stage: Social Realism

The second stage is defined by social realism, where authors wrote novels intended to expose social injustices and challenge the Bourgeoisie. Key topics include city life, rural existence, and labor conditions. Notable works include:

• La Colmena by Camilo José Cela
• El Jarama by Rafael Sánchez Ferlosio

The Third Stage: New Narrative Techniques

Beginning in 1962 with the publication of Tiempo de silencio by Luis Martín-Santos—widely considered the best 20th-century Spanish novel—this stage introduced innovative narrative techniques. Authors began incorporating styles from European and American masters such as Marcel Proust, Franz Kafka, James Joyce, and Virginia Woolf. This era also saw the publication of Cinco horas con Mario.

The Final Stage: Contemporary Narrative

The final stage marked a shift in narrative style, exemplified by Eduardo Mendoza’s La verdad sobre el caso Savolta. This period encompasses diverse genres, including historical, fantasy, testimonial, and crime fiction.

Miguel Delibes and Cinco horas con Mario

Narrative Theory

Delibes was inspired by Unamuno’s theories on novel writing. For Delibes, the most important elements of a novel are the characters and the observation of reality, often grounded in autobiographical elements. A defining feature of his work is the use of dialogue that reflects the characters' social class and environment. His novels blend realism with modern narrative techniques.

Character Development

Delibes initially conceived the character of Mario based on his friend José Jiménez Lozano, though he incorporated more personal details as the work progressed.

Structure of the Novel

External Structure: The novel consists of an obituary, an unnumbered introductory chapter, 27 numbered chapters, and an unnumbered final chapter.

Point of View: The introductory chapter uses a third-person narrator mixing dialogue and narrative. The 27 chapters are written in the first person as an aloud monologue or soliloquy, while the final chapter returns to the third person.

Time and Perspective

Time: The narrative is set within a maximum of 12 hours, with approximately five hours spent with Carmen accompanying her husband at his wake.

Narrative Perspective: Delibes originally began writing in the third person but shifted to a first-person monologue to avoid distorting the story through Mario's sympathy. The novel's monologue is structured in concentric circles.