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Anales galdosianos [Publicaciones periódicas]. Año XII, 1977
In any event, we have witnessed, in this speech-scene in the café, the thought process within
the group-organism's mind. The presentation of this thought process within a living body (taken
etymologically, « unánimes » suggests the existence of one single soul within this body) lends true
life, in the reader's conception, to one more personage in the novel. We observe further development
of this new creature: « y tres o cuatro, encargados del ceremonial, dieron cuenta del arreglo de la
procesión; se fijó la hora, se designó el punto de reunión » ( ibid. ). The organs or cells of the
organism, that is, the totality of persons in the café, are arranged so that it has a body (most of the
members) and a brain formed of the « tres o cuatro » who arrange the details of the action to be
taken. This organism, whose thought patterns we have been observing, will be seen in action and in
conflict with another group-organism at a later time.
As the patrons of the Fontana de Oro take their leave, one small group characterized by Galdós as «
aquella fracción ignorante y turbulenta » decides to end the evening by creating civil disorder outside
the home of Morillo, Captain General of New Castile. This group has as its nucleus a small number of
individuals who had been seated in one corner of the café. At the instigation of Calleja, the barber, who
shouts, « ¡Señores, serenata a Morillo! », their ranks are augmented by: « toda la gente dispuesta
para el caso que por allí pasaba » (p. 57). This entity, which we may denominate the Calleja group,
may be viewed as yet another personage, one which is quite distinct from the group formed within the
café and which is scheduled to participate in a demonstration the following day. The Calleja group is
as much the product of oratory (« serenata a Morillo ») as is the other organism, but its difference
in character may be noted by its more violent and less considered intentions in addition to the fact
that it operates in accordance with Calleja's exhortations rather than the advice of the café's « orador
favorito ». Calleja had not dared to speak in competition with the eloquent orators of the Fontana de
Oro; nevertheless, Calleja-idea is hastily accepted by the group labeled « ignorante y turbulenta ».
As human beings differ in character according to the ideas they accept and the actions they commit,
so do the two groups described above (the café group which rejected Lázaro-idea but accepted the «
orador favorito »; the Calleja group) differ and may be considered distinct Galdosian personages.
Prior to the events of the evening described above, Alcalá Galiano addresses the throng gathered at
the Fontana de Oro 15 . This prestigious historical personage finds it necessary finally to step down
15 The footnote on page 20 of the Obras completas , vol. IV ( La Fontana de Oro ) states: « El mismo
Alcalá Galiano refiere con mucha franqueza este suceso en sus anotaciones a la Historia de España,
por Dunham. »
15