The myth of Don Quixote, Galdós' depiction of the Isabeline era, 1833-1868

grantor: University of TorontoThis thesis represents a study of Benito Pérez Galdós' vision of Isabeline Spain from 1833 to 1868 through a critical analysis of the twenty novels that constitute the third and fourth series of the ' Episodios nacionales'. By tracing Galdós' particular use of the myth of Don Quixote in these twenty 'episodios', one gains a greater understanding of the socio-political vision that the preeminent Spanish writer of the nineteenth century shared vis-à-vis his own country, a vision that increasingly occupied his mind and soul. The thesis is divided into five chapters. The first two are exclusively historical in nature, as they deal with the rise and decline of liberalism, respectively. The objective of these two chapters is to put into context the historical, political, and social background that formed the setting of the ' Episodios nacionales'. The third chapter deals with Galdós political ideology, primarily through a study of his newspaper articles. His political stance as an ardent liberal is an essential aspect, since this ideology lies at the very heart of the perspective from which the 'episodios' were written. Thus this chapter serves as a link between the first two and the last two. The last two chapters essentially treat Galdós' special use of the myth of Don Quixote in each of the twenty 'episodios'. This great myth, in fact, took on a negative connotation in Galdós' view. The quixotic characters are portrayed as retrogressive and anachronistic fools. By contrast, those characters who are depicted as anti-quixotic, liberal, and progressive function as exemplary models for Galdós' readers to emulate. Thus Galdós endowed these 'episodios' with a national regenerationist spirit in his attempt to provide a remedy for a country that was in the midst of a profound national crisis.Ph.D