Sobre el autor y la obra
-
Baroja
o
Spain, 1872-1956
o
Spain’s
most prolific novelist of pre-Civil War period
o
Had
a medical degree and was a practicing doctor for a short time
o
Generation
of 98
-
This
work is rather pessimistic (one of his most pessimistic)
-
The
novel is somewhat autobiographical (of Baroja’s youth; covers same years that
he studied medicine – 1187-1896)
-
Modernist
influence
Comps ideas to
consider
-
La generación del 98: Unamuno,
Baroja, Valle-Inclán, and Machado
Secondary
Source – Cambridge Companion to Spanish
Novel, Chap. 10 (pg. 159)
-
Relied
on artistic language to convey a sense of anxiety about the modern world
-
Camino de perfección, 1902
o
New
conception of novel as loosely structured, more conform to life’s unstructured
path than to the traditional pattern of beginning, middle, and end
o
Influence
of picaresque tradition of character moving through the world and experiencing
life
-
He
was Spain’s most prolific novelist of pre-Civil War period
-
El árbol de la ciencia, 1911
o
Represents
Baroja’s interest in the role of science in the modern world and the
relationship of writing to life
o
“Baroja,
who had a medical degree and was a practicing doctor for a short time, explored
through Andrés Hurtado, the protagonist of El
árbol de la ciencia, the limitations of science and philosophy in dealing
effectively with the basic problems of humanity – poverty, disease, immorality,
and loneliness”
Secondary
Source – Ideas about Generation of ’98 (Cambridge:
Spanish Novel, Chapter 10, pg. 155-156)
-
Writers
of Miguel de Unamuno’s era
-
Born
at the same time as Spain somewhat belatedly entered the modern age
-
European
modernists – concerned with the effects of modern life on society and the
individual; expressed anxieties in the novel
-
Some major writers: Miguel de Unamuno,
Ramón del Valle-Inclán, Pío Baroja, José Martínez Ruiz
-
Conscious
creation of new art forms in order to distinguish literature from the precedent
realist-Naturalist mode
-
Concern
with existential problems rather than with “real world” issues; however,
existential dilemmas are always embedded in concrete situations such as love
and marriage
Random Ideas
-
Novel
has same structure as the periods of Baroja’s life:
1. Student life.
2. Viaje a Valencia y Burjasot, con la muerte de su hermano mayor
3. Etapa como médico rural
4. Vuelta a Madrid
1. Student life.
2. Viaje a Valencia y Burjasot, con la muerte de su hermano mayor
3. Etapa como médico rural
4. Vuelta a Madrid
-
Baroja has a concern about "el
dolor"- fuera de unos límites concretos de la medicina, que se extiende a
la psicología, que va desde la neurología a la filosofía y que puede
llegar hasta el moral.
-
19th
century: siglo de la Ciencia- time of great scientific discovery. La ciencia "como algo nuevo que viene a paliar las desgracias del
hombre"
-Also, a concern for hygiene "como sistema preventivo y como terapia". Hygiene also has moral effects...
-Also, a concern for hygiene "como sistema preventivo y como terapia". Hygiene also has moral effects...
-
Novelas
de Baroja also feature the Nordic man coming to Mediterranean in search of
sunlight...
Main characters
-
Andrés
Hurtado – protagonist
-
Lulú
– Andrés’s eventual wife
-
Luisito
– Andrés’s little brother
-
Dr.
Iturrioz – Andrés’s uncle, from previous generation, kind of a foil to Andrés
Summary
The first section
of the book describes the experience of the semi-autobiographical protagonist,
Andrés Hurtado as he studies medicine in Madrid.
He is friends with Julio Aracil and Montaner. His two friends are kind of
“Semitic,” according to a description given that divides Spain into two
kinds of people (Semitic and Spanish): they prefer luxury and things having to
do with money instead of labor and other “common” things. Hurtado lives with
his family in a room by himself where he reads novels and thinks about the
world instead of studying. He tries to read philosophy and his field of study
does not interest him much (neither do women). He is really just trying to find
himself in this early section of the book (he moves from philosophy to
philosophy, alternately admiring and despising people whose books he reads).
The second
section of the book deals more with Hurtado’s social life. He becomes friends
with a young woman named Lulú, and she is world-weary. They talk about all
sorts of things and people together, with focus on less-than-savory things that
seem to occupy most of the world. At the end of the section, Luisito (the
younger brother of Andrés) becomes very sick with what appears to be TB.
In the third
part, part of the time is spent with Margarita, Luisito and Andrés in Valencia where
everyone spends lots of time outside. The little one seems to be getting
better, and Andrés is able to work on his dissertation, but then don Pedro
decides that he doesn’t want to keep paying for them to live in that house. So,
against what Andrés wants, they move in with some relatives back in Madrid. Andrés hates it,
although he is able to defend his dissertation. He leaves to work temporarily
as a doctor out in the country and, while he is gone Luisito dies.
In the middle of
the book, there is a long philosophical conversation between Andrés and his
uncle, Dr. Iturrioz.
During the rest of
the book, Andrés works in a variety of places and observes a variety of people.
As a medic, he works in the country and observes how the nobles of Spain continue
to gain more money and power while the poor only get poorer. In fact, the poor
have been “colonized in their minds” because they cannot conceive of changing
their state. Hurtado has philosophical conversations with Iturrioz: the shared
thinking between them becomes more and more along the lines of Nietzsche and
fascism.
Andrés works with
the poor in Madrid
and it makes him very sad. He sees how people he had known in school have grown
up. Julio is completely a slave to money (although he’s the one who gets Andrés
the job working with the poor/prostitutes) who even whores out his own wife. No
one really can find a way to progress in a personal way, whether it’s to be a
doctor or an inventor. Spain
is shown to just be completely trapped without any hope of forward motion.
There are no labs, no workshops, no way to increase progress.
Eventually, after
spending much happy time with her at her store, Andrés realizes that he is in
love with Lulú and they get married. They have a pretty chill life until Lulú
decides she wants to have a kid. So, Andrés gets her pregnant but both she and
the child die in childbirth. That night, Andrés kills himself with morphine.
The next morning when he is found, he is described both as tragic and as a sort
of precursor (Nietzsche-type idea).
Themes /
Important ideas
-
Generation
of 98
o
Pessimism
o
Disillusionment
with Spain (idea that Spain kind of sucks)
-
Spanish
identity
o
Negative
image of Spain, compared to other European countries
o
Idea
that Spain is kind of backwards, stagnant
-
Social
conflict/divide (between rich and poor)
-
Pessimism
(influence of Nietzsche)
o
Sickness/death
o
Andrés
is a crappy doctor
-
Sickness/illness/death
o
Andrés
is a doctor, but is surrounded by sickness/death (ironic?)
o
Luisito
dies as a child
o
Lulú
and baby die in childbirth
The Book:
General Notes
I. Andrés Hurtado comienza la carrera
-time of excitement, moving from bachillerato to universidad. Meets friend from high school (Julio). Old professor shows up (who knows Pasteur and other big-deal scientists). Hurtado es republicano, enemigo de la burguesía, likes Espronceda. Montaner: defensor de la familia real, like Zorilla. Julio Aracil is more practical-we just need money and a woman like that...
II. Madrid: ciudad que mantiene espíritu romántico
I. Andrés Hurtado comienza la carrera
-time of excitement, moving from bachillerato to universidad. Meets friend from high school (Julio). Old professor shows up (who knows Pasteur and other big-deal scientists). Hurtado es republicano, enemigo de la burguesía, likes Espronceda. Montaner: defensor de la familia real, like Zorilla. Julio Aracil is more practical-we just need money and a woman like that...
II. Madrid: ciudad que mantiene espíritu romántico
hasn't
changed in years. Students
aren't super religious, just want to be little Don Juans. Spain thinks itself a
big deal, but outside of the country, that's not true at all. "tendencia natural a la mentira, a la ilusión del país pobre que se
aísla, contribuía al estancamiento". Students don't pay attention in
class- "Su preparación para la Ciencia no podía ser más desdichada"
III. Andrés y su familia
-Lonely childhood, mom died, 5 hermanos. Father: tall, thin, elegant, "mezcla de sentimientos aristocráticos y plebeyos insoportable", spendthrift. Alejandro and Luis are favorite children (who act like their father), least favorite: Andrés
IV. En el aislamiento
Su madre: navarra fanática. Andrés argued with dad a lot. Dad makes fun of revolucionarios. Andrés insults burguesía, curas, ejército.
V. El rincón de Andrés
They rent their house from a marqués. Decides to live in a storage space so he won't have to share his room any more. Prefers to be alone, reading.
VI. La sala de disección
Sister makes him a special shirt for dissections. "en todos ellos se producía un alarde de indiferencia y de jovialidad al encontrarse frente a la muerte..."-a little disrespectful to the bodies. Talks about one family that accidentally cooked/ate a brain. "gran desprecio por la sensibilidad". Unusual friend, Massó (Hansel and Gretel string-thing). Aracil, Hurtado, Montaner, (A, H, M)as city slickers, don't associate with rural students. Collects books. Sañudo, another friend, loves music/Wagner.... Andrés "empezó a creer que esa idea general y vulgar de que el gusto por la música significa espiritualidad era inexacta."
Has an arthritic friend, feels sorry for his pain...."La vida en general, y sobre todo la suya, le parecía una cosa fea, turbia, dolorosa e indomable."
VII Aracil y Montaner.
A., M., H. finish first anatomy course. Next up is physiology, but the book is terrible (from a French book). Studying is a series of obstacles you must overcome. Becomes good friends with Julio Aracil (who doesn't study, but always passes). Recognition of "venalidad de los políticos", "omnipotencia del dinero" (SO PESSIMISTIC). Tío Iturrioz says: In Spain, there are two types- an Iberian (fuerte y guerrero) and a Semite (intriga y comercio). Aracil is more like a judío and Montaner is also pretty semite. Andrés and Montaner talk badly about Julio behind his back, but when he returns to Madrid, they're all friends again.
VIII. Una fórmula de la vida
4th year of med school. Trying to figure out calculations of life. "Todas esas fórmulas matemátics y su desarollo no eran más que vulgaridades disfrazadas con un aparato científico". Lots of talk about philosophy, intellectuals of the day-which seem like a lot of fluff to Andrés.
IX. Un rezagado (straggler)
Little bro Luis gets typhoid. Andrés takes care of him and he survives, yet "empezó a pensar si la medicina no serviría para nada..." Meets Lamela...."Según él, había que dar al cuerpo sus necesidades mezquinas y grosera y conservar al espíritu limpio" (belief in God isn't incompatible with immorality).
X. Paso por San Juan de Dios
A., M., H. take a course on venereal diseases..."Pensaba que por una causa o por otra el mundo le iba presentando su cara más fea." Evidencia "la pobredumbre que venena la vida sexual" (HYGIENE!) "Realmente la política de España nunca ha sido nada alto ni nada noble"... "Se iba inclinando a un anarquismo espiritual."
XI. De alumno interno.
Aracil and Hurtado pass exams. Start to earn a little money. Andrés finds/reads a diary of a monja, really likes it. Strange guy, Juan. "Es tan lógico, tan natural en el hombre huir del dolor, de la tristeza! Y sin embargo, para él (juan), el sufrimiento, la pena, debían de ser cosas atrayentes."
Part II
I. Las Minglanillas
"Con su dura filosofía del éxito Julio comenzaba a sentir más estimación por Hurtado que por Montaner." (Montaner failed exams). Julio begins to invest his tiny salary. Starts fooling around with these two sisters and invites Hurtado to join him.
Lulu-graciosa, fea, aspecto simio, tiene ingenio. "Sus 18 años no parecían juventud".
Niní: tenía deseo de agradar, disimulo, "más femenino/vulgar". Hurtado not a fan of the way Julio takes advantage of this family.
II. Una cachupinada
Going to be a dance in the Minglanillas' house. Antoñito, andaluz, clasificaba a las mujeres en dos clases: unas, las pobres, para divertirse, y otras, las ricas, para casarse" The girls wisen up to the men's plans to take advantage of them...not happy about it. Lulú- likes girls more- "y no es que tuviera instintos viciosos; pero la verdad era que no le hacían impresión los hombres." Lulú "creía que nunca llegaría a vivir bien". No one stays over with the girls that night.
III. Las moscas
Go to Doña Virginia's house.-alta, rubia, gorda. She's sitting with two men-one is her lover, the other is an editor. Andrés thinks she's repulsive. Someone comments "ella es una explotadora de esas pobres muchachas que lleva a su casa engañadas"-she kidnaps/sells women, does abortions. "La piedad no aparecía por el mundo"-again, visión pesimista
IV. Lulú
Hurtado finds her simpática y graciosa. Speaks what's on her mind. Lulú knows Doña Virginia. the madrona-not a fan, naturally. Not a ladylike woman, but great for old men and sickly people because "comprendía sus manías y se reía de ellos"
V. Más de Lulú
Andrés went on walks with her and her mom. "Lulú era muy arbitraria; ponía sus antipatías y sus simpatías sin razón alguna". She, too, is a pessimist- "tendencia al final trágico", almost raped as a child. Seems to represent the "other" type of women, fuera de la sociedad, not really respected because she's ugly, she has to work...
VI. Manolo el Chafandín
He is the son-in-law of a friend on Lulú, lives off his mother-in-law. Lulú defends Venancia and calls Manolo+wife out for being leeches. Manolo gets really mad, but Andrés stands up for her.
VII. Historia de la Venancia
Now, Andrés is considered a bit of a hero. Venancia's history: had worked for really wretched women (including one who had an amante who Venancia helped escape when the marido came home) She knows the dirty side of the high class.
VIII. Otros tipos de la casa
Stories of different people from the 'hood.
IX. La crueldad universal
"Tenía Andrés un gran desero de comentar filosóficamente las vidas de los vecinos de la casa de Lulú." Andrés enjoys chatting with Tío Iturrioz. Tío says "La vida es una lucha constante, una cacería cruel en que nos vamos devorando los unos a los otros....Yo creo que lo justo en el fondo es lo que nos conviene." Philosophical conversation. Morality of animals' survival.
Part III- Tristezas y dolores
I. Día de navidad.
Last year of studies. Luisito is sick again, spitting blood. There is a real medical diagnosis going on here...not just antiquated medical ideas. Solution: sun and salt water. Still no real cure for TB. Heads to Valencia- la luz cegaba. Beautiful garden, blue skies! Andrés heads back to Madrid.
II. Vida infantil
Andrés goes back to VLC and Luisito is getting better. Luisito "llevaba una vida higiénica-dormía con la ventana abierta...duchaba con agua fría" Luisito has picked up a Valencian accent. La vida en el pueblo era en muchas cosas absurda- las mujeres paseaban separadas de los hombres y esta separación existía en casi todo.
III. La casa antigua
Pedro wants Luis to come home-says he can't pay for it. Andrés' critique: but he can pay for his casinos! Sent to live with aunt in the city. Aunt's children are a little off-"los tres parecían conservados en una urna." Andrés tries to teach criada about hygiene and leaving the window open for Luis, but she doesn't get it.
IV. Aburrimiento
Luis continues to get better. Time in VLC passes.
V. Desde lejos
Andrés is working on his doctorate, goes back to Madrid. Luisito dies in VLC, but the card arrives too late for Andrés to go to the funeral. Le produce un gran estupor. Remembers how happy Luisito was when he last saw him.
Part 4: Inquisiciones
I) Plan filosófico
Andrés sends his savings to his sister. In Madrid, he runs into Fermín Ibarra, engineer. A. talks with Tío I. again, who tells him "Los profesores no sirven más que para el embrutecimiento metódico de la juventud estudiosa...El español todavía no sabe enseñar." Andrés seems to be looking (in vain) for the meaning of life. Debating intellectualism. (seems like we're reading a summary of a book on philosophy...) "El universe no tiene comienzo en el tiempo, ni límite en el espacio,,,todo está sometido al encadenamiento de causa y efecto"...Ideas of time/space are needs of our spirits.
II. Realidad de las cosas
More philosophical debates. Relative truths vs. absolute truths (like gravity). "mentira incial". "La ciencia es la única construcción fuerte de la humanidad."
III. El árbol de la ciencia y el árbol de la vida
Tío I. "You've made science [knowledge] your idol" Men have greater comprehension than animals- "A más comprender corresponder menos desear." Andrés- "El instinto vital necesita la ficción para afirmarse...Science then is the quanity of Mentira that is necessary for life." Tío I. harkens back to tree of knowledge and tree of life from Génesis. "Kant pide por misericordia que esa gruesa rama del árbol de la vida, que se llama libertad, responsabilidad, derecho, descanse junto a las ramas del árbol de la ciencia." Schopenhaur's philopsophy. blah blah. La ciencia marcha adelante, arrollándolo todo.
Andrés, says Tío, wants to give un valor absoluto a las relaciones entre las cosas. Andrés: " La fe para un católic pude ser verdad y útil, para un irrelegioso puede ser falso y útil, para otro, falso y inútil" (RELATIVISM)
IV. Disasociación
Tío I: You can be a great artist or scientist and still not really understand anything. "El intelectualismo es estéril."
V. La compañia del hombre
"Hoy, un chico lee una novelo del año 30, y las desesperaciones de Larra y Espronceda, y se ríe; tiene la evidencia de que no hay misterios....Yo soy un romántico práctico...Creo que hay que vivir co las locuras que uno tenga, cuidándolas y hasta aprovechándose de ellas."
Part 5: The experience in the pueblo.
I. De viaje
Man on train is told, "No le permito hablar así de España. Si ud es extranjero y no quiere vivir aqui, go home. To travel, you need to be polite."
II) Llegada (al pueblo)
un rezo - costumbres del pueblo cuando alguien muere- "daba una impresion de romanticismo y misterio". town looks like a sepulcro. (**It would be interesting to look at how this book depicts romanticism[fantastical]/the past/the present[pessimistically]**)
III) Primeras dificultades
The two town drs. (one is Andrés) divide the town in half. La gente manchega is not like the proud/aggressive stereotype, sino sencillos, afables. *no fresh fish in town *no baños--> ¡Qué malestar físico le producía aquel ambiente! Andrés rents a crappy room. Dueño, Pepinito, is a gruff fellow; kills a bird because it can no longer walk. (symbolic? Drs. fix sick people, Pepinito disposes of them).
IV) La hostilidad médica
Don Juan is the other doc. Bruto b/c he like los toros. Andrés visits sick patient...cuervos pasan (mal augurio?) Don Juan is mad that Andrés told girl to see specialist in Madrid (loss of "business") "la gente se inclinaba a creer en la ciencia del nuevo médico" (Yet, in general, some people are resistant to new science)
V) Alcolea del campo
Eran "españolas puras" las costumbres-es decir, un absurdo completo" (seems like anti-idealization of the country?). Village doesn't know how to manage their crops in order to make a profit. Político de caciquismo. "en Alcolea casi todos los ricos defradaban la Hacienda"- they only consider it robbery if you rob a person, not the government (critique!). Again, new vs. old- new methods of wine making vs. old methods.
VI) Tipos de Casino
Hurtado starts to get bored, goes to casino in winter- "vestigio del antiguo esplendor del pueblo". (Don Blas seems like a Fray Gerundio.) Don Blas vivía en arbitrariedad-just likes to cite famous books. Critique! "el que ama la contradicción y la verbosidad es incapaz de aprender nada que sea serio"
VII) Sexualidad y Por- (avoiding the word not to show up in sketchy search engines)
III. Andrés y su familia
-Lonely childhood, mom died, 5 hermanos. Father: tall, thin, elegant, "mezcla de sentimientos aristocráticos y plebeyos insoportable", spendthrift. Alejandro and Luis are favorite children (who act like their father), least favorite: Andrés
IV. En el aislamiento
Su madre: navarra fanática. Andrés argued with dad a lot. Dad makes fun of revolucionarios. Andrés insults burguesía, curas, ejército.
V. El rincón de Andrés
They rent their house from a marqués. Decides to live in a storage space so he won't have to share his room any more. Prefers to be alone, reading.
VI. La sala de disección
Sister makes him a special shirt for dissections. "en todos ellos se producía un alarde de indiferencia y de jovialidad al encontrarse frente a la muerte..."-a little disrespectful to the bodies. Talks about one family that accidentally cooked/ate a brain. "gran desprecio por la sensibilidad". Unusual friend, Massó (Hansel and Gretel string-thing). Aracil, Hurtado, Montaner, (A, H, M)as city slickers, don't associate with rural students. Collects books. Sañudo, another friend, loves music/Wagner.... Andrés "empezó a creer que esa idea general y vulgar de que el gusto por la música significa espiritualidad era inexacta."
Has an arthritic friend, feels sorry for his pain...."La vida en general, y sobre todo la suya, le parecía una cosa fea, turbia, dolorosa e indomable."
VII Aracil y Montaner.
A., M., H. finish first anatomy course. Next up is physiology, but the book is terrible (from a French book). Studying is a series of obstacles you must overcome. Becomes good friends with Julio Aracil (who doesn't study, but always passes). Recognition of "venalidad de los políticos", "omnipotencia del dinero" (SO PESSIMISTIC). Tío Iturrioz says: In Spain, there are two types- an Iberian (fuerte y guerrero) and a Semite (intriga y comercio). Aracil is more like a judío and Montaner is also pretty semite. Andrés and Montaner talk badly about Julio behind his back, but when he returns to Madrid, they're all friends again.
VIII. Una fórmula de la vida
4th year of med school. Trying to figure out calculations of life. "Todas esas fórmulas matemátics y su desarollo no eran más que vulgaridades disfrazadas con un aparato científico". Lots of talk about philosophy, intellectuals of the day-which seem like a lot of fluff to Andrés.
IX. Un rezagado (straggler)
Little bro Luis gets typhoid. Andrés takes care of him and he survives, yet "empezó a pensar si la medicina no serviría para nada..." Meets Lamela...."Según él, había que dar al cuerpo sus necesidades mezquinas y grosera y conservar al espíritu limpio" (belief in God isn't incompatible with immorality).
X. Paso por San Juan de Dios
A., M., H. take a course on venereal diseases..."Pensaba que por una causa o por otra el mundo le iba presentando su cara más fea." Evidencia "la pobredumbre que venena la vida sexual" (HYGIENE!) "Realmente la política de España nunca ha sido nada alto ni nada noble"... "Se iba inclinando a un anarquismo espiritual."
XI. De alumno interno.
Aracil and Hurtado pass exams. Start to earn a little money. Andrés finds/reads a diary of a monja, really likes it. Strange guy, Juan. "Es tan lógico, tan natural en el hombre huir del dolor, de la tristeza! Y sin embargo, para él (juan), el sufrimiento, la pena, debían de ser cosas atrayentes."
Part II
I. Las Minglanillas
"Con su dura filosofía del éxito Julio comenzaba a sentir más estimación por Hurtado que por Montaner." (Montaner failed exams). Julio begins to invest his tiny salary. Starts fooling around with these two sisters and invites Hurtado to join him.
Lulu-graciosa, fea, aspecto simio, tiene ingenio. "Sus 18 años no parecían juventud".
Niní: tenía deseo de agradar, disimulo, "más femenino/vulgar". Hurtado not a fan of the way Julio takes advantage of this family.
II. Una cachupinada
Going to be a dance in the Minglanillas' house. Antoñito, andaluz, clasificaba a las mujeres en dos clases: unas, las pobres, para divertirse, y otras, las ricas, para casarse" The girls wisen up to the men's plans to take advantage of them...not happy about it. Lulú- likes girls more- "y no es que tuviera instintos viciosos; pero la verdad era que no le hacían impresión los hombres." Lulú "creía que nunca llegaría a vivir bien". No one stays over with the girls that night.
III. Las moscas
Go to Doña Virginia's house.-alta, rubia, gorda. She's sitting with two men-one is her lover, the other is an editor. Andrés thinks she's repulsive. Someone comments "ella es una explotadora de esas pobres muchachas que lleva a su casa engañadas"-she kidnaps/sells women, does abortions. "La piedad no aparecía por el mundo"-again, visión pesimista
IV. Lulú
Hurtado finds her simpática y graciosa. Speaks what's on her mind. Lulú knows Doña Virginia. the madrona-not a fan, naturally. Not a ladylike woman, but great for old men and sickly people because "comprendía sus manías y se reía de ellos"
V. Más de Lulú
Andrés went on walks with her and her mom. "Lulú era muy arbitraria; ponía sus antipatías y sus simpatías sin razón alguna". She, too, is a pessimist- "tendencia al final trágico", almost raped as a child. Seems to represent the "other" type of women, fuera de la sociedad, not really respected because she's ugly, she has to work...
VI. Manolo el Chafandín
He is the son-in-law of a friend on Lulú, lives off his mother-in-law. Lulú defends Venancia and calls Manolo+wife out for being leeches. Manolo gets really mad, but Andrés stands up for her.
VII. Historia de la Venancia
Now, Andrés is considered a bit of a hero. Venancia's history: had worked for really wretched women (including one who had an amante who Venancia helped escape when the marido came home) She knows the dirty side of the high class.
VIII. Otros tipos de la casa
Stories of different people from the 'hood.
IX. La crueldad universal
"Tenía Andrés un gran desero de comentar filosóficamente las vidas de los vecinos de la casa de Lulú." Andrés enjoys chatting with Tío Iturrioz. Tío says "La vida es una lucha constante, una cacería cruel en que nos vamos devorando los unos a los otros....Yo creo que lo justo en el fondo es lo que nos conviene." Philosophical conversation. Morality of animals' survival.
Part III- Tristezas y dolores
I. Día de navidad.
Last year of studies. Luisito is sick again, spitting blood. There is a real medical diagnosis going on here...not just antiquated medical ideas. Solution: sun and salt water. Still no real cure for TB. Heads to Valencia- la luz cegaba. Beautiful garden, blue skies! Andrés heads back to Madrid.
II. Vida infantil
Andrés goes back to VLC and Luisito is getting better. Luisito "llevaba una vida higiénica-dormía con la ventana abierta...duchaba con agua fría" Luisito has picked up a Valencian accent. La vida en el pueblo era en muchas cosas absurda- las mujeres paseaban separadas de los hombres y esta separación existía en casi todo.
III. La casa antigua
Pedro wants Luis to come home-says he can't pay for it. Andrés' critique: but he can pay for his casinos! Sent to live with aunt in the city. Aunt's children are a little off-"los tres parecían conservados en una urna." Andrés tries to teach criada about hygiene and leaving the window open for Luis, but she doesn't get it.
IV. Aburrimiento
Luis continues to get better. Time in VLC passes.
V. Desde lejos
Andrés is working on his doctorate, goes back to Madrid. Luisito dies in VLC, but the card arrives too late for Andrés to go to the funeral. Le produce un gran estupor. Remembers how happy Luisito was when he last saw him.
Part 4: Inquisiciones
I) Plan filosófico
Andrés sends his savings to his sister. In Madrid, he runs into Fermín Ibarra, engineer. A. talks with Tío I. again, who tells him "Los profesores no sirven más que para el embrutecimiento metódico de la juventud estudiosa...El español todavía no sabe enseñar." Andrés seems to be looking (in vain) for the meaning of life. Debating intellectualism. (seems like we're reading a summary of a book on philosophy...) "El universe no tiene comienzo en el tiempo, ni límite en el espacio,,,todo está sometido al encadenamiento de causa y efecto"...Ideas of time/space are needs of our spirits.
II. Realidad de las cosas
More philosophical debates. Relative truths vs. absolute truths (like gravity). "mentira incial". "La ciencia es la única construcción fuerte de la humanidad."
III. El árbol de la ciencia y el árbol de la vida
Tío I. "You've made science [knowledge] your idol" Men have greater comprehension than animals- "A más comprender corresponder menos desear." Andrés- "El instinto vital necesita la ficción para afirmarse...Science then is the quanity of Mentira that is necessary for life." Tío I. harkens back to tree of knowledge and tree of life from Génesis. "Kant pide por misericordia que esa gruesa rama del árbol de la vida, que se llama libertad, responsabilidad, derecho, descanse junto a las ramas del árbol de la ciencia." Schopenhaur's philopsophy. blah blah. La ciencia marcha adelante, arrollándolo todo.
Andrés, says Tío, wants to give un valor absoluto a las relaciones entre las cosas. Andrés: " La fe para un católic pude ser verdad y útil, para un irrelegioso puede ser falso y útil, para otro, falso y inútil" (RELATIVISM)
IV. Disasociación
Tío I: You can be a great artist or scientist and still not really understand anything. "El intelectualismo es estéril."
V. La compañia del hombre
"Hoy, un chico lee una novelo del año 30, y las desesperaciones de Larra y Espronceda, y se ríe; tiene la evidencia de que no hay misterios....Yo soy un romántico práctico...Creo que hay que vivir co las locuras que uno tenga, cuidándolas y hasta aprovechándose de ellas."
Part 5: The experience in the pueblo.
I. De viaje
Man on train is told, "No le permito hablar así de España. Si ud es extranjero y no quiere vivir aqui, go home. To travel, you need to be polite."
II) Llegada (al pueblo)
un rezo - costumbres del pueblo cuando alguien muere- "daba una impresion de romanticismo y misterio". town looks like a sepulcro. (**It would be interesting to look at how this book depicts romanticism[fantastical]/the past/the present[pessimistically]**)
III) Primeras dificultades
The two town drs. (one is Andrés) divide the town in half. La gente manchega is not like the proud/aggressive stereotype, sino sencillos, afables. *no fresh fish in town *no baños--> ¡Qué malestar físico le producía aquel ambiente! Andrés rents a crappy room. Dueño, Pepinito, is a gruff fellow; kills a bird because it can no longer walk. (symbolic? Drs. fix sick people, Pepinito disposes of them).
IV) La hostilidad médica
Don Juan is the other doc. Bruto b/c he like los toros. Andrés visits sick patient...cuervos pasan (mal augurio?) Don Juan is mad that Andrés told girl to see specialist in Madrid (loss of "business") "la gente se inclinaba a creer en la ciencia del nuevo médico" (Yet, in general, some people are resistant to new science)
V) Alcolea del campo
Eran "españolas puras" las costumbres-es decir, un absurdo completo" (seems like anti-idealization of the country?). Village doesn't know how to manage their crops in order to make a profit. Político de caciquismo. "en Alcolea casi todos los ricos defradaban la Hacienda"- they only consider it robbery if you rob a person, not the government (critique!). Again, new vs. old- new methods of wine making vs. old methods.
VI) Tipos de Casino
Hurtado starts to get bored, goes to casino in winter- "vestigio del antiguo esplendor del pueblo". (Don Blas seems like a Fray Gerundio.) Don Blas vivía en arbitrariedad-just likes to cite famous books. Critique! "el que ama la contradicción y la verbosidad es incapaz de aprender nada que sea serio"
VII) Sexualidad y Por- (avoiding the word not to show up in sketchy search engines)
Andrés goes to bookseller who has magazines of mujeres
desnudas...Town with tight moral standards, yet high consumption of unsavory
images (whereas places with more relaxed moral standards have lower por.
consumption
VIII) el dilemma
Andrés gets bad rep in town. "Hates rich and poor", "demagogue"- Since no one likes him anymore, he stays in his room and reads. irrtidación profunda contra todo. chastity is not good for him. "quiere demostrar que se puede no tener religión y ser más bueno que los religiosos" (which drives this traditional little town nuts."
IX) La mujer del tío Garrota
Andrés helps a woman who's been brutally beaten by her husband, they THINK. Andrés explains the science behind why she's having trouble speaking-aphasia. They interrogate husband; he's a drunk, but says he didn't do it. Sánchez says he did; more scientifically, Andrés steps in and says she's an alcoholic. People think there's been corruption in the case, can't accept the knowledge of Andrés.
X) Despedida
Andrés has no place in the town, decides to leave. ¡Absurdo!
Part 6
I) Comentario a lo pasado.
Madrid about to declare war on U.S. Spaniards are self-assured about victory- "Los periódico traían cálculos completamente falsos". Iturrioz has his facts straight-they're going to lose. "Yo creo que la civilización le debe más al egoísmo que a todas las religiones y utopías filantrópicas..." "espíritu de trabajo y sumisión" amongst the lower classes/comparison to bees (they were BORN to be that way).
II) Los amigos
Reunion with Montaner, who now works for Julio (who's now got a lot of investments). Madrid again como pantano, stagnant. Montaner has become quite capitalistic "Es la vida de hoy, que lo exige. La mujer tiene que estar bien, ir a la moda..."
III) Fermín Ibarra
Ibarra, the inventor, doesn't really have a market in Spain, so he's thinking of going north. -critique of Spanish gov't/system. Ibarra ends up in Belgium, very successful very quickly
IV) Encuentro con Lulú
Tells how Julio left Niní for a rich woman. Niní gets married and they tell Julio "He was REALLY rich" to stick it to the man. She opens her own shop (revolutionary, at the time) "¡Qué cosa más digna vivir del trabajo!"
V) Médico de higiene
Andrés new position is the above. He hates it. Becomes violent and brutal in his words. Doesn't really treat women who have venereal diseases...just tells them they can head out and infect others. el presidio-->miseria--> prostitución. Poor people outnumber rich. Things look bad. "La clase burguesa se iba preparando para someter a la casta pobre y hacerla su esclava."
VI) La tienda de confecciones
Lulú owns a shop, Andrés visit. They talk about the right women to marry-e.g. not a woman who is just intellectual and sin fuerza orgánica y sin sensualidad.
VII) De los focos de la peste
Andrés: "No hay fuente limpia sin que los hombres metan allí las patas y la ensucian." (PESIMISTA)
Women in prostíbulos have, 100%, terrible outcomes. "Todo esto es lo que queda de moro y de judío en el español; el considerar a la mujer como una presa..." (stereotypes)
VIII) La muerte de Villasús
Andrés changes jobs to work with poor people. Comes to agree with his uncle "la naturaleza no sólo hacía el esclavo, sino que daba el espíritu de la esclavitud" (**This is an interesting concept. Especially to apply to our times...but, slavery to capitalism/consumerism, rather than actual, stock and cuffs, slavery) *"La ley siempre es más dura con el débil." Kind of borders on human darwinism...
People don't believe this one guy died, catalepsia
IX) Amor, teoría y práctica
Darwinism-women need to create, women desire a child, but that is a boring description, so we have this thing called love. Andrés seems to love Lulú, kisses her.
Part 7
I. El derecho a la prole
Tío I believes: "El delito mayor es hacer nacer". (Again, social darwinism-sick ppl shouldn't have kids. "El perpetual dolor en el mundo me parece un crimen."
II. La vida nueva
Andrés begins work as a translator. Tells Lulú- Don't pay attention to others. "un estado de tranquilidad como el nuestro es una injuria para toda esa gente, que vive en una perpetua tragedia de celos..." Harmonious marriage.
III. En paz.
They live just like the chapter suggests. Lulú gets pregnant- goes from burlona y alegre to triste y sentimental. "histerismo". Andrés starts getting crazy too. Takes morphine to sleep (uh-oh...)
IV. Tenía algo de precursor
Pregnancy increasingly painful (symbolic of the fact that "sick" people, like Lulú shouldn't procreate??) Baby dies, but Dr. doesn't want Lulú to cry too much about it so not to lose her strength. Lulú dies. Andrés kills himself- "La muerte había sobrevenido por parálisis inmediate del corazón." (symbolic**)
DONE.
VIII) el dilemma
Andrés gets bad rep in town. "Hates rich and poor", "demagogue"- Since no one likes him anymore, he stays in his room and reads. irrtidación profunda contra todo. chastity is not good for him. "quiere demostrar que se puede no tener religión y ser más bueno que los religiosos" (which drives this traditional little town nuts."
IX) La mujer del tío Garrota
Andrés helps a woman who's been brutally beaten by her husband, they THINK. Andrés explains the science behind why she's having trouble speaking-aphasia. They interrogate husband; he's a drunk, but says he didn't do it. Sánchez says he did; more scientifically, Andrés steps in and says she's an alcoholic. People think there's been corruption in the case, can't accept the knowledge of Andrés.
X) Despedida
Andrés has no place in the town, decides to leave. ¡Absurdo!
Part 6
I) Comentario a lo pasado.
Madrid about to declare war on U.S. Spaniards are self-assured about victory- "Los periódico traían cálculos completamente falsos". Iturrioz has his facts straight-they're going to lose. "Yo creo que la civilización le debe más al egoísmo que a todas las religiones y utopías filantrópicas..." "espíritu de trabajo y sumisión" amongst the lower classes/comparison to bees (they were BORN to be that way).
II) Los amigos
Reunion with Montaner, who now works for Julio (who's now got a lot of investments). Madrid again como pantano, stagnant. Montaner has become quite capitalistic "Es la vida de hoy, que lo exige. La mujer tiene que estar bien, ir a la moda..."
III) Fermín Ibarra
Ibarra, the inventor, doesn't really have a market in Spain, so he's thinking of going north. -critique of Spanish gov't/system. Ibarra ends up in Belgium, very successful very quickly
IV) Encuentro con Lulú
Tells how Julio left Niní for a rich woman. Niní gets married and they tell Julio "He was REALLY rich" to stick it to the man. She opens her own shop (revolutionary, at the time) "¡Qué cosa más digna vivir del trabajo!"
V) Médico de higiene
Andrés new position is the above. He hates it. Becomes violent and brutal in his words. Doesn't really treat women who have venereal diseases...just tells them they can head out and infect others. el presidio-->miseria--> prostitución. Poor people outnumber rich. Things look bad. "La clase burguesa se iba preparando para someter a la casta pobre y hacerla su esclava."
VI) La tienda de confecciones
Lulú owns a shop, Andrés visit. They talk about the right women to marry-e.g. not a woman who is just intellectual and sin fuerza orgánica y sin sensualidad.
VII) De los focos de la peste
Andrés: "No hay fuente limpia sin que los hombres metan allí las patas y la ensucian." (PESIMISTA)
Women in prostíbulos have, 100%, terrible outcomes. "Todo esto es lo que queda de moro y de judío en el español; el considerar a la mujer como una presa..." (stereotypes)
VIII) La muerte de Villasús
Andrés changes jobs to work with poor people. Comes to agree with his uncle "la naturaleza no sólo hacía el esclavo, sino que daba el espíritu de la esclavitud" (**This is an interesting concept. Especially to apply to our times...but, slavery to capitalism/consumerism, rather than actual, stock and cuffs, slavery) *"La ley siempre es más dura con el débil." Kind of borders on human darwinism...
People don't believe this one guy died, catalepsia
IX) Amor, teoría y práctica
Darwinism-women need to create, women desire a child, but that is a boring description, so we have this thing called love. Andrés seems to love Lulú, kisses her.
Part 7
I. El derecho a la prole
Tío I believes: "El delito mayor es hacer nacer". (Again, social darwinism-sick ppl shouldn't have kids. "El perpetual dolor en el mundo me parece un crimen."
II. La vida nueva
Andrés begins work as a translator. Tells Lulú- Don't pay attention to others. "un estado de tranquilidad como el nuestro es una injuria para toda esa gente, que vive en una perpetua tragedia de celos..." Harmonious marriage.
III. En paz.
They live just like the chapter suggests. Lulú gets pregnant- goes from burlona y alegre to triste y sentimental. "histerismo". Andrés starts getting crazy too. Takes morphine to sleep (uh-oh...)
IV. Tenía algo de precursor
Pregnancy increasingly painful (symbolic of the fact that "sick" people, like Lulú shouldn't procreate??) Baby dies, but Dr. doesn't want Lulú to cry too much about it so not to lose her strength. Lulú dies. Andrés kills himself- "La muerte había sobrevenido por parálisis inmediate del corazón." (symbolic**)
DONE.
No comments:
Post a Comment