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Anales galdosianos [Publicaciones periódicas]. Año XII, 1977
Russell has so convincingly demonstrated 86 , in the character of Benina « la santidad » is not self-
conscious or problematic, as it is in the characters of earlier novels such as Orozco, Viera, Nazarín
and Halma. Benina has no concept of herself which she seeks the means to realize: she neither self-
consciously separates herself physically from society, nor does she use others as the means for her
own self-perfection. While the interplay between reality and illusion is employed in novels prior to
Misericordia to expose the illusions of Orozco, Viera, Nazarín, Halma, etc., it is used in Misericordia
to shed light upon, Benina's Christlikeness.
Considered from the perspective of Misericordia , Orozco and Viera are far from the ideal which
Galdós posits in the character of Benina. Both perform charitable works, yet they do so in the
quixotic: pursuit of antiquated ideals: Orozco aspires to an ascetical, and subtly egoistical, ideal of
self-perfection, and uses other people to attain it; Viera follows an outdated and unchristian ideal
of honor. Continuing this line of reasoning, of the main characters of Realidad it is Augusta with
whom Galdós sympathizes most, and who, by virtue of her intention to repent at the end of the novel,
most approximates the « santidad » of the « figura evangélica » of Benina. (This view of
Augusta is corroborated by the external evidence of her subsequent actualization of this intention
in Torquemada y San Pedro.) Augusta alone traverses the Cervantine trajectory from engaño to
desengaño by recognizing her own failings, and, having rejected the religious ideals of her husband,
resolving to dedicate herself to the selfless and unconscious pursuit of charity. This is how Galdós
uses the interplay between reality and illusion to explore the inner reality of conscience and morality
in Realidad and to begin the « proceso de espiritualización » which would continue to unfold in the
novels that followed it. Finally, this interplay provided Galdós with the proper ironic framework to
make in Realidad a serious commentary on social values, which would be repeated again and again
in its successors: that all men, regardless of class cleavage, can attain « santidad », if they will only
recognize their illusions and selflessly dedicate themselves to the total practice of charity. 87
The Johns Hopkins University
86 «The Christ Figure in Misericordia », AG , 2 (1967), 103-130. Also see J. E. Varey, «Charity in
Misericordia », in Galdós Studies I , ed. J. E. Varey (London: Tamesis, 1970), pp. 164-194.
87 I am grateful to Professors Rodolfo Cardona and Paul R. Olson for reading an earlier version of
this paper and encouraging me to revise it for publication.
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