Galdós's Novels: Consciousness, Morality, and Social Critique

Galdós's Exploration of Consciousness and Morality

At this stage, the cult of consciousness is a consistent feature of Galdós's novels. Consciousness serves as a source of knowledge, revealing imperfections and deviations. This awareness radiates righteousness, as embodied in the figures of the sounds, a sign of Benin.

Mercy

• Benina is asked to help his wife, who is concerned with social appearances. Benina has some strengths and hides what she does, helping his wife discreetly. This novel has a moral content, ridiculing many customs (plantemientos of the church), but conveying a Christian message (focusing on morality rather than Christianity). It also provides a historical portrait of Madrid.
• Initially, it was well-received, but today it is one of the most studied. This is partly due to the negative portrayal of priests. It also touches on revolutionary politics.

Narrative Technique

(Works BPG)

• The omniscient narrator dominates the story, controlling the plot and reflecting reality.
• There is a "historical flavor" in the novels.
• A fundamental idea is the disagreement with reality and the inability to accept one's social position.
• In Galdós's characters, this inability to accept their social position is a recurring theme.
• Dementia and social injustices are also explored.
• Thesis: Society has vices that need to change.
• Topics: religion and the religious.

Characteristics of the Picaresque Novel:

LA CASA DE ALBA BENARD: ARGUMENT AND SUBJECT OF THE WORK.

The plot originates from grief. The mother and daughters have been in mourning for eight years. It's a constant struggle between "tradition" and "freedom." Bernarda's authority (the mother) clashes with the yearning for freedom of her 20-year-old daughter, Adela. There are no male characters, although there is mention of Roman, who is not present in the work.

The daughter from Bernarda's first marriage had a larger dowry due to her Roman connections. However, the younger sister was more beautiful, completing the love triangle in the work.

These characters are figures of tragedy and human misery. They are women of lower social classes, but they were well-regarded in the village. What matters to Bernarda is the social dimension (what people say). There is a strong sense of realism and cruelty.