SUMMARY BY CHAPTERS OF 'MARIANELA'

From: Benito Pérez Galdós

Chapter I: Lost

Golfín leaves to visit his brother in the Socartes mines. As he continues his journey,
Golfín mutters to himself forward, always forward, these are the words spoken by the
last people he encountered along his path and who indicated the location of the mines.
After a lot of walking, Golfín finds a mining exploitation field, his astonishment came
when he confirmed that it was abandoned. While overcoming his astonishment, Golfín
meets a young man who tells him that he is indeed in the Socartes mine, but very far
from the establishment that is now the main entrance. The young man offers to guide
him there. The last surprise that the night holds for Golfín is that the kind young man
who would serve as his guide is blind.

Chapter II: Guided

Once he has started towards the main entrance, Golfín is still surprised that a young
blind man is his guide. While they travel the difficult path, the young man makes a
detailed description of what they find in their path. The young man seems to be able to
completely ignore sight to know with enormous accuracy the location and composition
of the things that surround him. Once they had visited one of the caves, they met the girl
that Golfín had heard before while he was lost—it's Marianela—replied the young blind
man—now she's in charge of taking him to the offices. He and Golfín say goodbye with
the promise of meeting again and thus begins a friendship.

Chapter III: A dialogue that will serve as an exposition

Golfín is guided by Nela to the mine offices. The curiosity aroused by his new guide
makes Golfín ask Nela about her life. This is how Golfín finds out that Nela is an
orphan. She herself tells him the misadventures that plague her past and present. Golfín
is surprised to hear from Nela herself the poor opinion she has of herself. Nela explains
to Golfín the origin of her name; He tells him about Canela, his mother. Golfín discovers
that it is only the young Pablo who shows affection towards Nela. Once near the mine,
the notes of a piano and Nela's warning announce to Golfín that he is close to his long-
awaited meeting with Carlos, his brother.

Chapter IV: The stone family

Nela only lives in a corner of the Centeno house. The mistreatment and disdain that he
receives from them is only a consequence of the indifference and mistreatment that the
Centeno couple's own children receive. The Centenos are a couple busy accumulating
money, the product of all family members' work in the mine. The youngest son—Celipín
—was the only one with aspirations beyond working in the mine, and the only one with
whom Nela relates. Their relationship becomes increasingly closer due to her complicity
in Celipín's secret plans to study. Nela is also the only one who contributes to carry them
out because, every time she has the opportunity, she gives her the money that people
give her for the favors received from her.

Chapter V: Work, landscape, figure

Dawn comes to the iron mine and its surroundings. The town wakes up with the bell—
the men leave their homes to enter another day into the very hard work of the mine, the
women to wash the extracted mineral, the mules to carry their task again on their backs.
At sunrise, Socartes and its population shine purple, the fine dust that is a by-product of
the steel industry. Nela also goes out to Pablo's house, the young blind man who
accompanied Golfín the day before. Nela, Pablo's guide, goes out with him for a walk
through the fields.

Chapter VI: Nonsense

Nela, Pablo and the dog Choto walk towards the forest. Like every day they go out,
Pablo brings Nela some gifts: a candy, a chocolate, some nuts. They are the small riches
that Nela lacks in her frugal life with the Centenos. Nela explains the dichotomy of her
life: during the day she is happy on her outings with Pablo but at night she does not find
happiness at home. Along the way, she describes the details of the countryside and offers
her own superstitious explanations of nature: such as that the stars are saved souls that
come down from the sky to reveal secrets to humans. Pablo tells her that he will ask her
father to teach her to read, so that she can use her intellectual and creative gifts, and thus
improve with education and reason.

Chapter VII: More nonsense

Nela and Pablo arrive at the entrance to the forest, where you can see a piece of the sea
in the distance. They sit together to rest among some walnut trees, and Pablo tells Nela
about the history and science books that his father read to him at night. But the night
before his father read from 'The Thousand and One Nights' a description of beauty.
Pablo confesses to Nela that he doesn't need to use his eyes to know that she is the
epitome of beauty like in the book... a modest, loving woman, beautiful like angels. Nela
denies that she is such a woman—in reality she is a simple and ugly woman. Pablo
laments that sight has robbed men of the ability to know true beauty and admits that he is
in love with it. Afterwards, the couple returns home to meet Pablo's father and Golfín.

Chapter VIII: The nonsense continues

Pablo shares with Nela the hope that floods his spirit when he hears from Golfín and his
father that destiny holds the hope of seeing for him. Pablo translates his hope into the
realization of his longing to see his beloved Nela. For her part, Nela shares Pablo's joy at
seeing again, however anxiety grows in her heart that once Pablo's sight is restored, the
beauty that he attributes to his spirit does not match his exterior. The night before, Pablo
could not sleep due to the outburst of hope that the good news provoked in him, so he
fell asleep on Nela's lap during their walk, meanwhile she thought she heard her mother's
voice coming from the depths of her the Trascava…
Chapter IX: The Golfines

Shortly after arriving at the mine, Golfín knows it from end to end. When the day is nice,
the Golfín family likes to take walks around the mine; They gather around the piano and
delight in singing. Sofía (his sister-in-law) was fond of charitable works, in Madrid she
had organized some events to benefit the poor, for which Golfín reproached her for her
lack of attention to the poor around her, particularly Nela. The Golfín couple did not
have any surviving children, so Golfín suggests that they could adopt Nela. After an
incident, Nela sprains her foot and Golfín carries her on his shoulders back home.

Chapter X: Story of two sons of the people

To Sofía and Carlos, Golfín tells the story of him and his brother, while Sofía jokes that
he is exaggerating too much. Golfín tells them how he learned to read, how he was part
of the 'Escalapios', how he studied medicine, and how the brothers took care of each
other in their financial difficulties. He continues telling how Carlos found work and
Golfín left for America. After the story, Carlos admires his brother Teodoro for his
determination to restore Pablo's sight, while Sofía continues making fun of him. The
three of them arrive in the company of Nela at Don Penáguilas' house. And it gets sunset.

Chapter XI: The Patriarch of Aldeacorba

After the walk, the Golfín family, accompanied by Nela, heads to Don's house. Francisco
who receives them with a glass of freshly milked milk. Don Francisco, outside the
Golfín family, is happy for the hope that Golfín gives Pablo: to see again. Likewise, he
shares his concern for Pablo's feverish imagination, which lately has only been
concerned with one thought, namely that Nela is a beautiful girl. Golfín recommends that
Don Francisco suspend the readings and provide Pablo with the greatest peace of mind
so that Pablo's brain is in good condition for the future operation...

Chapter XII: Doctor Celipín

Back at the Centeno's house, Nela gives Celipín the two pesos that Golfín generously
gave her to buy shoes. As usual, Nela and Celipín talk a little before going to sleep about
his plans to leave home and study. Nela tells Celipín the life of setbacks that the Golfín
brothers lived before they became good men. The story serves as inspiration for Celipín,
who decides that he wants to follow in the footsteps of Teodoro Golfín and thus become
a respectable doctor like him. . Celipín tries to persuade Nela to leave with him, arguing
that after Pablo regains his sight there is nothing left for Nela to do in Socartes.

Chapter XIII: Between two baskets

As readers we enter Nela's thoughts and story. Although her philosophy is based on a
mixture of paganism and sentimentalism, she rejects the hideous image of God, but
recognizes the words of the Gospel and the power of the Virgin Mary, who, for Nela,
personifies ideal beauty in human form. Nela asks the Virgin why she made her so ugly
and asks her to make her beautiful so that when the Virgin gives Pablo his sight, he will
not find her very ugly. She loves Pablo, but wishes he would never open his eyes to look
at her.

Chapter XIV: How the Virgin Mary appeared to Nela

When morning arrives, and as usual, Nela dedicates some prayers to the Virgin Mary.
Likewise, she rested on the divine faculties of the Mother of God to find a happy
outcome for herself and for Paul. During her chores Marianela repeated to herself the
words said by Pablo about the sensations prior to a tremor; I could feel them, I didn't
know if it was a good thing or not, but they were there. Once in the field and continuing
with her musings, Nela is surprised by the appearance of the Virgin, she thought she saw
her in person to which she was petrified. Then, little by little she recovers from her
surprise and realizes that it is Florentina, Pablo's beautiful cousin, who had come in the
company of her father to finalize the details of the wedding that her parents have planned
for her. and Paul.

Chapter XV: The three

Pablo and Nela are going to show Florentina the mines. They talk about Pablo's
blindness, Florentina mentions that some disappointments await him when he gains his
sight, and Nela begins to get nervous. Florentina asks about the inequality that makes
Nela wear an old dress while she has a nice one. He decides that he is going to have Nela
as his friend, that she is going to help him, that she will teach him to be a useful and
homely woman.
Florentina walks away a little, and Pablo takes the opportunity to tell Nela that he finds
his cousin a beautiful woman, while Nela's worries grow.

Chapter XVI: The promise

Golfín performs Pablo's surgery without knowing what the results will be. Pablo spends
several days locked up, attended only by his father, so no one else knows if the operation
was successful. Florentina accompanies Nela to the Centeno house, and leaves horrified
by the conditions in which Nela lives. She reaffirms her promise to share with what she
herself has received. Eight days after the operation, Nela goes to Sofía's house, who tells
her that there is a rumor that Pablo can now see. And now with the view—Sofía tells him
—it is almost certain that young Pablo is going to marry Miss Florentina.

Carlos arrives to confirm his brother's miracle, yes, Pablo already has the gift of sight.

Chapter XVII: Fugitive and meditative

The news of Pablo's operation reaches throughout the town, but Nela avoids going to the
Penáguilas' house. She spends days as a fugitive in the countryside, praying to the Virgin
and thinking that God wants her to suffer. Arriving home, she meets Florentina, who
wants to take her to see Pablo. Florentina convinces her to go live with her and see
Pablo, but as they approach the Penáguilas' house, she runs away, explaining that she
cannot go. Confused, Florentina returns home and tells Golfín that Nela ran away
because of her ingratitude.
Chapter XVIII: Nela decides to leave

Nela continues wandering in the countryside, but at night she approaches the Penáguilas'
house without anyone noticing. Return to the forest and find Celipín on the way. He has
left the house and wants to run away with Nela to never see his parents again. Nela
rejects the idea, saying that it is not her time to leave the mines and Celipín says goodbye
to her. Choto, Pablo's dog, discovers Nela wandering, returns to the Penáguilas house
and points out to Golfín that he found her. Golfín enters the forest with Choto and they
find Nela, who runs out and goes down to the Trascava. Then Golfín convinces her to
come up so he can tell her something.

Chapter XIX: Domestication

Golfín surprises Marianela just in time, as she was trying to rid herself of her own
existence under the false belief that life would bring her better luck once she died. Golfín
persuades her not to take her own life and urges her to open her heart to him, the only
person willing to care about the issues that afflict her heart. Nela confesses to Golfín the
love she professes for Pablo and the promises that Pablo made to her to never separate.
He also confesses the reason why he decides to leave, how he feels jealous of Florentina.
Finally Golfín, after making Nela see that although she is devoid of external beauty, her
greatness of spirit made her an exceptional being. After a while they return to
Aldeacorba where Golfín introduces Nela to Florentina's room.

Chapter XX: The new world

The plot goes back to the day Golfín removed Pablo's bandage. At first Pablo is afraid of
his new world, but little by little he thanks it and is inundated with the beauty around
him. He sees Florentina first, wrongly, he thinks she is Nela. Pablo can't believe his
cousin is so beautiful, and begs her to stay with him while he recovers. Pablo confesses
to his cousin that he loves Nela, and asks Florentina to bring her to him. Florentina finds
Nela, but she runs away, and Florentina believes she does so out of ingratitude. Pablo is
sure that Nela will come alone, in her own time. At night he hears the voices of his
father, Golfín and Florentina. The next day he gets out of bed for the first time since his
operation.

Chapter XXI: The eyes kill

The morning that Nela woke up in Florentina's room, her father announced that at that
moment Don Francisco was talking to Pablo about the matter of the wedding. Golfín,
who was there, worried about Nela's condition, describes to Florentina the unfortunate
life she has had to lead due to the absence of a soul who can take care of her. After a
moment, Pablo enters, who had already removed the bandage and was going to express
to Florentina the happiness that the future union between them caused him. Nela, who
until then went unnoticed on the couch, catches Pablo's attention, who addresses her and
when he feels Nela's hand on his he realizes that it is her, Pablo fixes his gaze on her,
and she Upon feeling the weight of Pablo's gaze, he begins his descent into the depths of
death. Golfín, faced with the frustration and helplessness of not being able to save her,
ends up exclaiming that Nela has died of love...!

Chapter XXII: Goodbye

Nela, who never had material goods or recognition in life, has a funeral attended by the
entire town and a magnificent tomb given to her by Florentina. To the surprise of those
who knew her, her death caught the attention of many. Months later, when everyone had
forgotten about her, when Pablo and Florentina had already gotten married, some foreign
travelers arrived at her tomb. They point out in a wallet that the tomb belongs to a noble
and beautiful woman, Doña Mariquita Manuela Tellez (Nela). They then publish their
description as Sketches from Cantabria. The reporters investigated the truth, but they did
not find it, which is the reason why the author writes this same book: so that readers
know the true story of Nela, one of the most interesting that exists.

Characters
Marianela: a young woman with the appearance of a girl. Orphaned and protected by
the mercy of the people. She lived her last months happily and in love with her master
Pablo. He had a life full of misery.

Teodoro Golfín: middle-aged man, kind and with upright principles. Doctor who gives
Pablo the gift of sight and tries to save Nela.

Pablo: young blind man, of very good social standing who knew his lands like the back
of his hand and enjoyed Nela's company and his father's readings. Very sensitive and
intelligent young man.

Francisco Penáguilas: Pablo's father who goes out of his way to offer his son all his
wealth. Intelligent and good man.

Manuel Penáguilas: Florentina's father. He is determined to make Florentina a “class”

lady.

Florentina: Pablo's cousin who arrives in town for Pablo's operation. Very kind and
beautiful. His cousin's future wife.

Carlos Golfín: the engineer in charge of the mines and brother of Teodoro Golfín.

Sofía: wife of Carlos Golfín, a woman concerned about carrying out acts of charity.
Piano fan and passionate about her pet.

Centeno Family: family that gave shelter to Nela; The Centeno couple, two daughters
and two sons made up the family.

Celipín: youngest son of the Centeno family, besides Pablo and Golfín, he was the only
person who ever showed interest in Nela. He had aspirations of leaving home to be a
doctor.

Tanasio: eldest son of the Centeno family who makes baskets. Plays
Mariuca and Pepina: daughters of the Centeno family.

Sinforoso: father of the Centenos, he is a mule foreman in the mines.

Señana: mother of the Centenos, she is very inconsiderate towards Nela; Her real name
is Señora Ana.

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