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Consumer Behaviour Australia 3rd

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Chapter 7: Attitudes and attitude change

1) A(n) ________ is a lasting, general evaluation of people (including oneself), objects,


advertisements or issues.
A) principle
B) belief
C) theory
D) attitude
Answer: D
Diff: 1
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-1
AACSB: Communication abilities

2) The functional theory of attitudes was initially developed to explain how ________.
A) people identify with products
B) attitudes facilitate social behaviour
C) attitudes are learned from family and friends
D) attitudes change over an individual's lifetime
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-1
AACSB: Communication abilities

3) The ________ function of attitudes applies when a person is in an ambiguous


situation and needs order, structure or meaning.
A) knowledge
B) utilitarian
C) value-expressive
D) ego-defensive
Answer: A
Diff: 1
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-1
AACSB: Communication abilities

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) –
9781442553583/Solomon/Consumer Behaviour/3e
1
4) Which of the following attitude functions is associated with a focus on particular
social identities and lifestyles (e.g., ‘What sort of man reads Playboy?’)?
A) Utilitarian
B) Value-expressive
C) Ego-defensive
D) Knowledge
Answer: B
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-1
AACSB: Communication abilities

5) What do the A, B and C of the ABC model of attitudes stand for?


A) Attitude, business and consumption
B) Affect, behaviour and cognition
C) Assumptions, best practices and conditions
D) Approval, behaviour and context
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-3
AACSB: Communication abilities

6) According to the basic ABC model of attitudes, ________ refers to the beliefs a
consumer has about an attitude object.
A) affect
B) conditions
C) approval
D) cognition
Answer: D
Diff: 1
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-3
AACSB: Communication abilities

7) What is the first step in the standard learning theory hierarchy approach?
A) Affect
B) Intentions
C) Cognition
D) Behaviour
Answer: C
Diff: 2

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) –
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Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-2
AACSB: Communication abilities

8) The ________ hierarchy assumes the consumer does not initially have a strong
preference for one brand over another. Instead, he acts on the basis of limited
knowledge and then forms an evaluation only after the product has been purchased or
used.
A) experiential
B) habitual
C) low-involvement
D) standard learning
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-2
AACSB: Communication abilities

9) According to the ________ hierarchy, the consumer considers purchases based on an


attitude of hedonic consumption (such as how the product makes him or her feel or the
fun its use will provide).
A) experiential
B) habitual
C) low-involvement
D) standard learning
Answer: A
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-2
AACSB: Communication abilities

10) Researchers agree that there are various levels of commitment to an attitude. The
highest level of involvement is ________.
A) internalisation
B) identification
C) compliance
D) actualisation
Answer: A
Diff: 1
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) –
9781442553583/Solomon/Consumer Behaviour/3e
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Objective: 7-3
AACSB: Communication abilities

11) The theory of cognitive dissonance is based on the ________.


A) knowledge function
B) principle of cognitive consistency
C) principle of cognitive-affect conflict
D) self-identification function
Answer: B
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-3
AACSB: Communication abilities

12) Which theory of attitudes states that people are motivated to take action to resolve
inconsistencies between attitudes and behaviours?
A) The theory of cognitive dissonance
B) Self-perception theory
C) Social judgement theory
D) Balance theory
Answer: A
Diff: 1
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-2
AACSB: Communication abilities

13) Which theory of attitudes assumes that people use observations of their own
behaviour to determine what their attitudes are?
A) The theory of cognitive dissonance
B) Balance theory
C) Social judgement theory
D) Self-perception theory
Answer: D
Diff: 1
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-5
AACSB: Communication abilities

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) –
9781442553583/Solomon/Consumer Behaviour/3e
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14) Which theory of attitudes assumes that people assimilate new information about
attitude objects in light of what they already know and feel, using an initial attitude as a
frame of reference to categorise new information?
A) The theory of cognitive dissonance
B) Multi-attribute theory
C) Social judgement theory
D) Self-perception theory
Answer: C
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-5
AACSB: Communication abilities

15) The balance theory perspective involves relations among three elements (a triad).
Which of the following is one of the elements of the triad?
A) A person and his or her perceptions
B) The marketer and their strategy of image building
C) A person's beliefs
D) Subconscious motives
Answer: A
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-5
AACSB: Communication abilities

16) All multi-attribute attitude models specify the importance of three elements. Two of
those elements are attributes and beliefs. What is the third element?
A) Action variables
B) Motivations
C) Recency of events
D) Importance weights
Answer: D
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-7
AACSB: Communication abilities

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) –
9781442553583/Solomon/Consumer Behaviour/3e
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17) According to the Fishbein model, one of the components of attitude is the ________
people have about an attitude object (Ao).
A) salient beliefs
B) subconscious beliefs
C) latitude of acceptance
D) latitude of rejection
Answer: A
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-7
AACSB: Communication abilities

18) Researchers have added to the original Fishbein multi-attribute model. The name of
this extended Fishbein model is the ________.
A) linked Fishbein model
B) theory of reasoned action
C) Phillips approach
D) subjective norm model
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-7
AACSB: Communication abilities

19) Which of the following theoretical models measures the attitude toward the act of
buying (Aact), rather than the attitude toward only the product itself?
A) The theory of cognitive dissonance
B) The theory of reasoned action
C) The balance theory
D) The theory of trying
Answer: B
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-7
AACSB: Communication abilities

20) Despite improvements to the Fishbein model, all of the following are considered to
be obstacles to predicting behaviour using this model EXCEPT which one?
A) The model has relatively weak theorems about attitudes.
B) The model deals with actual behaviour, not with the outcomes of behaviour.
C) Some outcomes are beyond the consumer's control.
D) Measures of attitude often do not really correspond to the behaviour they are

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) –
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supposed to predict.
Answer: A
Diff: 3
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-7
AACSB: Communication abilities

21) An active attempt to change attitudes is called ________.


A) behaviour modification
B) persuasion
C) communication
D) cognition
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-4
AACSB: Communication abilities

22) Source ________ refers to the message source's perceived social value.
A) valence
B) attractiveness
C) class
D) hierarchy
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-4
AACSB: Communication abilities

23) Most messages merely present one or more positive attributes of a product or
reasons to buy it. Which of the following best describes this approach to communicating
a message?
A) Supportive arguments
B) Countervailing arguments
C) Refutational arguments
D) Direct arguments
Answer: A
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-4

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) –
9781442553583/Solomon/Consumer Behaviour/3e
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AACSB: Communication abilities

24) ________ refers to a strategy in which a message compares two or more specifically
named or recognisably presented brands and evaluates them in terms of one or more
specific attributes.
A) Cognitive differentiation
B) Emotional appeal
C) Comparative advertising
D) Conclusion advertising
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-4
AACSB: Communication abilities

25) Kanisha is confronted with a strange set of products during her most recent visit to
the cosmetics counter at her favourite department store. Urban Grunge nail polish is
"hot, hot, hot" according to recent ads. Kanisha likes the idea of a new nail polish but is
unsure about the image that might be projected by the dull colours of the nail polish
line. With such names as Street Slime, Garbage Goo and Trash Can, caution might be
the right move. Which of the following attitude functions most closely matches with
Kanisha's attitude towards the purchase decision?
A) Utilitarian function
B) Elaboration function
C) Ego-defensive function
D) Knowledge function
Answer: C
Diff: 3
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Application
Objective: 7-1
AACSB: Analytic skills

26) Suzi is never quite sure which brand of gum to buy. She tries some, likes some and
rejects some. However, through a process of behavioural learning she does remember
those brands that taste good and make her mouth feel fresh. The problem is that she
cannot often remember the brands that are not so good and often repeats purchasing
mistakes. "Oh well," says Suzi, "gum buying is not that big of a deal anyway". Which of
the following hierarchies would most appropriately describe Suzi’s situation?
A) Standard learning hierarchy
B) Experiential hierarchy
C) Low-involvement hierarchy
D) Habit hierarchy
Answer: C
Diff: 2

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) –
9781442553583/Solomon/Consumer Behaviour/3e
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Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Application
Objective: 7-2
AACSB: Analytic skills

27) Roger was really angry when Coca-Cola attempted to switch from its older formula
to New Coke. He wrote letters to Coca-Cola, talked to friends, called the local bottler,
attempted to hoard ‘old Coke,’ and complained to the local grocery store manager. In
this example, which of the following kinds of degree of commitment would be most
closely associated with Roger and his attitudes?
A) Compliance
B) Identification
C) Information acquisition
D) Internalisation
Answer: D
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Application
Objective: 7-4
AACSB: Analytic skills

28) A politician attempts to gain support for her campaign for mayor by releasing a poll
showing that almost 70 per cent of the city's voters support her position on property
taxes. What basic psychological principle is the politician using to persuade voters that
she should be the next mayor?
A) Consistency
B) Authority
C) Consensus
D) Liking
Answer: C
Diff: 3
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Application
Objective: 7-5
AACSB: Analytic skills

29) Some theorists have proposed a model that focuses on studying consumer goals as a
way to explore attitude formation. According to this model, what consumers believe
they have to do to attain their goals would also be part of any evaluation of attitudes.
Which of the following theories would be most closely linked to the statements above?
A) Theory of reasoned action
B) Theory of trying
C) Theory of direct response
D) Rejection theory
Answer: B

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) –
9781442553583/Solomon/Consumer Behaviour/3e
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Diff: 3
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Critical Thinking
Objective: 7-5
AACSB: Reflective thinking skills

30) Public hearings are being held to discuss whether a new nuclear power plant should
be built. An expert on nuclear plants testifies that modern safeguards make the plant
secure from dangerous accidents. A local woman speaks and states that she knows
nothing about nuclear power, but the idea of having a plant nearby frightens her and her
children. Which of the two parties has the most immediate ability to change the attitudes
of the audience? Considering the sleeper effect, what will likely happen over time?
A) The expert will have the most ability to change attitudes and his influence will be
maintained even weeks later.
B) The expert will have the most ability to change attitudes, but his influence will
decrease over time as the woman's argument gains force.
C) Because the local woman is most like the other people in the meeting, her opinion
will have the most immediate influence, but over time the expert's opinion will gain
force.
D) The woman's opinion will be more likely to influence the audience initially, and her
influence will extend into the future.
Answer: B
Diff: 3
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Synthesis
Objective: 7-4
AACSB: Reflective thinking skills

TRUE or FALSE

31) According to the definition given in the text, the object of an attitude (Ao) can be an
object but not a person.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-1
AACSB: Communication abilities

32) According to the functional theory of attitudes, attitudes exist because they are
hereditary.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 1
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) –
9781442553583/Solomon/Consumer Behaviour/3e
10
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-1
AACSB: Communication abilities

33) In the standard learning hierarchy model, attitude is based on behavioural learning
processes.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 3
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-2
AACSB: Communication abilities

34) Considering the effects of cognitive dissonance, supplying customers with


additional reinforcement after a purchase can be a good marketing strategy.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 3
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-4
AACSB: Communication abilities

35) Latitudes of acceptance and rejection are important aspects of social judgement
theory.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-2
AACSB: Communication abilities

36) Balance theory reminds us that consistency is necessary to make any consumer
decision.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-5
AACSB: Communication abilities

37) According to the Fishbein model, salient beliefs are those beliefs about an object
that are considered during evaluation.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 2

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) –
9781442553583/Solomon/Consumer Behaviour/3e
11
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-5

38) The psychological principle of reciprocity is at work when we take into account
what others do before we decide what to do.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-5
AACSB: Communication abilities

39) Jason believes that dressing formally (e.g., a coat and tie) marks him as a man who
is ‘dressed for success’; therefore, Jason dresses formally even in class or for casual
occasions. Jason is basing this decision on the cognition part of the ABC model of
attitudes.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Application
Objective: 7-2
AACSB: Analytic skills

40) Double-Dip makes ice cream. The only advantage Double-Dip has over its
competitors is taste. Double-Dip costs more and has more calories per unit weight.
Promotions for Double-Dip should emphasise the experiential hierarchy of the ABC
model of attitudes.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 3
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Critical Thinking
Objective: 7-2
AACSB: Reflective thinking skills

41) A cola drink is preferred by a segment of cola drinkers, but the same segment
almost always picks another cola brand in blind taste tests. The attitude formation for
this product reflects the value-expressive function more than the utilitarian function.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 3
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Synthesis
Objective: 7-1

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) –
9781442553583/Solomon/Consumer Behaviour/3e
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AACSB: Reflective thinking skills

42) Petrol is the only commonly purchased product that is priced down to a fraction of a
cent. This is so because petrol is selected for purchase following a low-involvement
hierarchy, which makes point-of-purchase factors more important.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 3
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Synthesis
Objective: 7-2
AACSB: Reflective thinking skills

43) It is impossible for a person to hold two contradictory attitudes towards the same
object.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Synthesis
Objective: 7-5
AACSB: Reflective thinking skills

SHORT ANSWER

44) Describe the functional theory of attitudes and its components (functions).
Answer: Daniel Katz originally developed his functional theory to explain how
attitudes facilitate social behaviour. Attitudes exist because they serve some function for
the individual; that is, they are determined by a person's motives. The following are key
functions identified by Katz:
 Utilitarian function—this is related to the basic principle of reward and punishment.
We develop some attitudes toward products simply on the basis of whether they
provide us with pleasure or pain. Ads stressing straightforward product benefits
appeal to this function.
 Value-expressive function—attitudes that perform a value-expressive function are
central to the person's self-concept or central values. Ads that stress how using a
product makes a statement about him or her as a person appeal to this function.
 Ego-defensive function—the function of this attitude is to protect a person from real
or imagined, internal or external, threats to perceived security. Ads that stress how
product usage avoids the threat (often only implicitly) appeal to this function.
 Knowledge function—attitudes are formed to address the individual's need for order,
structure, meaning and control over their environment. Ads that stress the power of
product information, especially when a person is in an ambiguous situation or is
confronted with a new product, appeal to this function.
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) –
9781442553583/Solomon/Consumer Behaviour/3e
13
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-1
AACSB: Reflective thinking skills

45) Most researchers agree that an attitude has three components. List and briefly
describe those three components.
Answer:
a. Affect refers to the way a consumer feels about an attitude object.
b. Behaviour involves the person's intentions to do something with regard to an
attitude object (however, an intention does not always result in an actual behaviour).
c. Cognition refers to the beliefs a consumer has about an attitude object.
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Explain the relevance of the major theories of personality to
consumer behaviour.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-2
AACSB: Reflective thinking skills

46) Attitude researchers have developed the concept of a hierarchy of effects to explain
ways to study attitudes and their formation. List and briefly describe each of the three
hierarchies that were presented in the chapter. Be explicit with your descriptions.
Answer: The three hierarchies are: a) the standard learning hierarchy, b) the low-
involvement hierarchy, and c) the experiential hierarchy.
a. The standard learning hierarchy—in this form a consumer approaches a product
decision as a problem-solving process. The sequence of events is beliefs, to affect
(feeling), to behaviour, to an attitude (the attitude is based on cognitive information
processing). The standard learning hierarchy assumes that a consumer is highly
involved in making a purchase decision. The person is motivated to seek out a lot of
information, carefully weigh alternatives, and come to a thoughtful decision.
b. The low-involvement hierarchy—in this form the consumer does not initially have a
strong preference for one brand over another, but instead acts on the basis of limited
knowledge and then forms an evaluation only after the product has been purchased
or used. The attitude is likely to come about through behavioural learning; the
consumer's choice is reinforced by good or bad experiences with the product after
purchase. The sequence is beliefs, to behaviour, to affect, to attitude (based on
behavioural learning processes).
c. The experiential hierarchy—this perspective highlights the idea that attitudes can be
strongly influenced by intangible product attributes (such as packaging). The
sequence is affect (feelings), to behaviour, to beliefs, to attitude (based on hedonic
consumption).
Diff: 3
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-2
AACSB: Reflective thinking skills

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) –
9781442553583/Solomon/Consumer Behaviour/3e
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47) Why have multi-attribute attitude models become so popular among marketing
researchers? What three elements are specified in such models?
Answer: A simple response from a consumer does not always give enough information
about why the consumer feels a certain way about a product or about what marketers
can do to change the consumer's attitude. The models assume that a consumer's attitude
or evaluation of an attitude object will depend upon the beliefs he or she has about
several attributes of the object. The use of a multi-attribute model implies that an
attitude toward a product or brand can be predicted by identifying these specific beliefs
and combining them in an appropriate manner to derive a better measure of the
consumer's overall attitude.

Basic multi-attribute attitude models specify three elements:


 Attributes are characteristics of the attitude object.
 Beliefs are cognitions about the specific attitude object. A belief measure assesses
the extent to which the consumer perceives that a brand has a particular attribute.
 Importance weights reflect the relative priority of an attribute to the consumer.
Some attributes are more important than others to the consumer. These weights are
likely to differ across consumers.
Diff: 3
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Application
Objective: 7-7
AACSB: Analytic skills

48) What are the six major psychological principles that can influence people to change
their minds or comply with a request? Be specific in your answer.
Answer: The six principles are:
 Reciprocity: We are more likely to give if first we receive.
 Scarcity: Like people, items are more attractive when they aren't available.
 Authority: We believe an authoritative source much more readily than one that is
less authoritative.
 Consistency: People try to not contradict themselves in terms of what they say and
do about an issue.
 Liking: We agree with those we like or admire.
 Consensus: We consider what others do before we decide what to do.
Diff: 3
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Concept
Objective: 7-5
AACSB: Communication abilities

49) It is generally felt that a hierarchy of effects describes the relative influence of the
ABC model of attitudes. Which hierarchy would be most appropriate for a consumer
who is a loyal Coca-Cola consumer and drinks Coca-Cola for the ‘pleasure of it’? Cite
the hierarchy and briefly describe its order and function.
Answer: The hierarchy at work here is the experiential hierarchy. This perspective

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) –
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15
highlights the idea that attitudes can be strongly influenced by intangible product
attributes (such as packaging). The sequence is affect (feelings), to behaviour, to beliefs,
to attitude (based on hedonic consumption). In this model, consumers act on the basis of
their emotional reactions.
Diff: 3
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Application
Objective: 7-2
AACSB: Analytic skills

50) How strongly or weakly a consumer is committed to a specific attitude relates to the
level of involvement he or she has with the attitude object (Ao). Describe the strength of
commitment involved in each of the following and give an example:
∙ Compliance
∙ Identification
∙ Internalisation
Answer: Compliance—at the lowest level of involvement is compliance. An attitude is
formed because it helps in gaining rewards or avoiding punishment from others. This
attitude is very superficial. It is likely to change when the person's behaviour is no
longer monitored by others or when another option becomes available. (Example: A
person may drink Pepsi because this brand is sold in a cafe; it is too much trouble to go
elsewhere for Coca-Cola.)

Identification—a process of identification occurs when attitudes are formed in order to


be similar to another person or group. Advertising that depicts the social consequences
of choosing some products over others is relying on the tendency of consumers to
imitate the behaviour of desirable models. (Example: Selection of Budweiser beer gains
social acceptance at the nearby pub.)

Internalisation—at a high level of involvement, deep-seated attitudes are internalised


and become part of the person's value system. These attitudes are very hard to change.
(Example: Many consumers reacted quite negatively when Coca-Cola attempted to
switch the Coke formula. This allegiance to Coke was obviously more than a minor
preference for these people; the brand had become intertwined with their social
identities, taking on patriotic and nostalgic properties.)
Diff:3
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Critical Thinking
Objective: 7-3
AACSB: Reflective thinking skills

51) Why should marketers be aware of consumers' cognitive consistency and cognitive
dissonance? How can dissonance be reduced? Use the postpurchase behaviour of a
customer as an example.
Answer: According to the principle of cognitive consistency, consumers value harmony
among their thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and they are motivated to maintain

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) –
9781442553583/Solomon/Consumer Behaviour/3e
16
uniformity among these elements. If necessary, consumers will change their thoughts,
feelings or behaviours to make them consistent with their other experiences.

Cognitive dissonance theory is one of the most influential approaches to attitudes based
upon the consistency principle. The theory focuses on situations in which two cognitive
elements are inconsistent, creating a feeling of discomfort that the consumer is
motivated to reduce by making things fit with one another. Dissonance can be reduced
by eliminating, adding or changing elements. The pressure to reduce dissonance is more
likely to be observed in high-involvement situations in which the elements are
important to the individual.

Evaluations of a product tend to become more positive after the product has been
purchased. Consumers find even more reasons to like something after it becomes theirs.
An implication of this phenomenon is that consumers actively seek support for their
purchase decisions; marketers should supply them with additional reinforcement to
build positive brand attitudes.
Diff: 2
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Critical Thinking
Objective: 7-4
AACSB: Reflective thinking skills

52) Identify the elements of balance theory. Discuss possible interaction effects between
unit relation and sentiment relation and how they can be applied to marketing strategy.
Answer: The elements of a triad in balance theory are (1) a person and his or her
perceptions of (2) an attitude object and (3) some other person or object.

These perceptions can be either positive or negative. The theory specifies that people
desire relations among elements in a triad to be harmonious or balanced. If they are not,
a state of tension will result. People will somehow alter these perceptions in order to
make them consistent and to restore balance. Elements can be perceived as belonging
together in one of two ways:
 Unit relation, in which one element is seen as somehow belonging to or being part
of another element; and
 Sentiment relation, in which two elements are linked because one has expressed a
preference (or dislike) for the third.

Applications to marketing strategy could include the following:


 Forming a perception of a unit relation between consumers and usage of a product
to create the opportunity for developing new sentiment relations.
 Creating a sentiment relation between consumers and products by depicting unit
relations between products and celebrity endorsers.
Diff: 3
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Critical Thinking
Objective: 7-4

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) –
9781442553583/Solomon/Consumer Behaviour/3e
17
AACSB: Reflective thinking skills

53) Retail stores put a number of items in the aisles leading to the checkout station.
These are placed there to remind customers of things they may have overlooked, or to
show products that customers may not have thought of buying until they are seen.
Retailers know that some items are purchased on impulse. In other words, the customer
simply sees a product and purchases it. Create a fourth hierarchy of effects that would
combine the three components of the ABC model when a product is selected on impulse.
Answer: The customer simply buys the product, and then explains to herself later why,
and how, she feels. Consequently, there are two possibilities, both of which begin with
behaviour.
∙ The first hierarchy could be:
Behaviour > Beliefs > Affect
∙ The second hierarchy could be:
Behaviour > Affect > Beliefs
Diff: 3
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Synthesis
Objective: 7-2
AACSB: Reflective thinking skills

54) Both the Fishbein model and the extended Fishbein model attempt to measure the
influence of attitudes. What was the flaw in the original model and what was added in
the extended model to correct this flaw?
Answer: The original Fishbein model attempted to measure attitudes, but knowing a
customer's attitude does not always allow a useful prediction of his or her actual
behaviour. To translate intentions created by attitudes to actual behaviours required the
addition of other tangential attitudes and outside influences. The effect of social
pressure on intentions was added, which was measured by ascertaining relative
normative beliefs and the motivation a potential customer has to comply with that norm.
The attitudes towards buying also had to be added, which included the consequences of
purchasing.
Diff: 3
Learning Outcome: Discuss the techniques marketers use to change consumers'
attitudes.
Skill: Synthesis
Objective: 7-7
AACSB: Reflective thinking skills

Copyright ©2013 Pearson Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) –
9781442553583/Solomon/Consumer Behaviour/3e
18
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
The Project Gutenberg eBook of Miséricorde
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States
and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no
restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it
under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this
ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the
United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where
you are located before using this eBook.

Title: Miséricorde

Author: Benito Pérez Galdós

Author of introduction, etc.: Alfred Morel-Fatio

Translator: Maurice Bixio

Release date: July 24, 2022 [eBook #68603]

Language: French

Original publication: France: Hachette et Cie, 1900

Credits: Ramón Pajares, Claudine Corbasson and the Online


Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
(This file was produced from images generously made
available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK


MISÉRICORDE ***
Au lecteur
Notes.

MISÉRICORDE
ŒUVRES DE PEREZ GALDÓS
HORTALEZA 132, MADRID

ROMANS ESPAGNOLS CONTEMPORAINS

La desheredada.—El amigo Manso.—El doctor Centeno.—


Tormento.—La de Bringas.—Lo prohibido.—Fortunata y Jacinta.—
Miau.—La Incógnita.—Realidad.—Angel Guerra.—Tristana.—La
loca de la casa.—Torquemada en la hoguera.—Torquemada en la
cruz.—Torquemada en el Purgatorio.—Torquemada y San Pedro.—
Nazarín.—Halma.—Misericordia.—El Abuelo.

ROMANS DE LA PREMIÈRE ÉPOQUE

Doña Perfecta.—Gloria.—Marianela.—La familia de León Roch.


—La Fontana de Oro.—El Audaz.—La Sombra.

THÉATRE

Realidad.—La loca de la casa.—La de San Quintín.—Los


Condenados.—Voluntad.—Doña Perfecta.—La Fiera.

ÉPISODES NATIONAUX

Première série: Trafalgar.—La Corte de Carlos IV. —El 19 de


Marzo y el 2 de Mayo.—Bailén.—Napoléon en Chamartin.—
Zaragoza.—Gerona.—Cádiz.—Juan Martín el Empecinado.—La
batalla de los Arapiles.—Seconde série: El equipaje del Rey José.—
Memorias de un cortesano de 1815.—La segunda casaca.—El
Grande Oriente.—7 de Julio.—Los cien mil hijos de San Luis.—El
Terror de 1824.—Un voluntario realista.—Los Apostólicos.—Un
faccioso más y algunos frailes menos.—Troisième série:
Zumalacárregui.—Mendizábal.—De Oñate á la Granja.—Luchana.—
La Campaña del Maestrazgo.—La estafeta romántica—Vergara.—
En preparación: Montes de Oca.—Los Ayacuchos.—Bodas Reales.
41894.—Imprimerie Lahure, rue de Fleurus, 9, à Paris.
PEREZ GALDÓS

MISÉRICORDE
ROMAN

TRADUIT DE L’ESPAGNOL AVEC L’AUTORISATION DE L’AUTEUR

par Maurice BIXIO

PRÉFACE DE MOREL-FATIO

PARIS
LIBRAIRIE HACHETTE ET Cie
79, BOULEVARD SAINT-GERMAIN, 79

1900
PRÉFACE

Perez Galdós n’a pas besoin d’être introduit auprès du public


français. La grande renommée qu’il s’est acquise depuis une
trentaine d’années dans son pays et l’imposant cortège de ses
œuvres lui font faire place partout où l’Espagne excite l’intérêt et
éveille des sympathies. Chez nous, quelques-uns de ses romans de
la première et de la seconde manière ont été traduits et lui ont valu
déjà de fervents admirateurs[1]; il est du nombre de ces Latins du
Sud que nous accueillons avec le plus de plaisir et au contact
desquels nous aimons parfois à réchauffer et à ragaillardir nos âmes
oppressées et glacées par les brumes septentrionales. Mais ce que
nous connaissons de lui n’est qu’un avant-goût de ce que nous
désirons et voudrions connaître; nos relations n’ont été
qu’ébauchées, il nous faut, avec ce grand conteur, un commerce
plus assidu et intime. Puisse ce livre si heureusement choisi par M.
Maurice Bixio, puisse ce livre placé sous le beau vocable de
Miséricorde, tout imprégné d’humaine tendresse, d’abnégation et de
vaillance, n’être que le premier d’une nouvelle série de traductions
qui rendront accessibles aux Français tous les aspects du talent de
Galdós!
Je n’entreprendrai pas ici de les décrire dans ces pages qui
doivent rester un simple tribut de l’amitié; mais il me semble que je
pourrai dire au moins ce qui place l’auteur au premier rang des
romanciers contemporains de l’Espagne et pourquoi ses romans me
paraissent devoir être particulièrement goûtés en France.
L’œuvre est vaste et variée; à cette heure, plus de soixante
volumes, dont trente environ appartiennent au genre du roman
historique, ou, pour mieux dire, forment une sorte de revue
rétrospective de l’Espagne moderne depuis le commencement du
siècle, et que Galdós mènera jusqu’à la fin de la guerre carliste,
peut-être plus loin encore: suite de récits où se rejouent devant nous
par les acteurs qui y ont pris une part prépondérante les tragédies
ou les comédies dont se compose au XIXe siècle l’histoire de la
nation, et qui a reçu de son auteur le titre bien approprié d’Épisodes
nationaux. Pour l’assimiler à quelque chose de français, qui en
donnerait le mieux l’idée, on peut prononcer le nom de Erckmann-
Chatrian, mais d’un Erckmann-Chatrian plus imaginatif et plus fort, et
encore la comparaison ne vaudrait-elle que pour la première série
de ces Épisodes, de procédé assez sommaire. Dans la seconde
déjà et plus encore dans la troisième, qui l’une et l’autre ont profité
de l’enrichissement du talent de Galdós, il faudrait penser à quelque
chose de plus grand, peut-être à Balzac: tel de ces Épisodes
rappellerait assez les Chouans par l’intensité de vie qui y est
répandue, par des portraits très étudiés de personnages historiques,
par la profusion de détails pittoresques, par la création d’une
quantité de types représentatifs. Ces Épisodes ont eu en Espagne
un beau succès, sinon auprès de tous les raffinés, du moins auprès
du grand public. Ils sont venus au bon moment, ils ont répondu à un
besoin. Dans un pays où on ne lit guère, ces livres enseignent à
beaucoup tout ce qu’ils sauront jamais de l’histoire nationale; il font
revivre en les précisant, en leur donnant une âme et un corps,
quelques noms restés, mais assez indistincts, dans la mémoire des
Espagnols d’aujourd’hui. Tels les romans de Dumas, tels nos
drames historiques de la Porte Saint-Martin qui créèrent une histoire
de France à l’usage de nos classes populaires. Ne faisons point fi du
genre, sous prétexte que de médiocres écrivains l’ont discrédité: le
don d’intéresser, d’émouvoir, s’y révèle tout aussi bien qu’ailleurs,
sans compter que, pour nous Français, forts ignorants de l’histoire
moderne de l’Espagne, que la complication des événements
politiques et le manque de très grandes figures ou de très grandes
actions rendent à vrai dire fastidieuse, les Épisodes de Galdós nous
serviront comme ils servent aux demi-lettrés de là-bas; ils nous
apprendront sur les Zumalacárregui, les Cabrera, les Mendizábal et
les Espartero ce que nous n’aurions sans doute jamais appris et le
peu qu’il nous importe d’en connaître.
Mais le Galdós qui réunit tous les suffrages, qui a pour public
l’Espagne entière est le Galdós des Nouvelles espagnoles
contemporaines, surtout celles de la seconde époque, qui
commencent par La Desheredada et se termine par El Abuelo. Dans
ce domaine de la peinture des mœurs bourgeoises qu’il s’est adjugé
par droit de conquête, il règne en maître. Tandis que d’autres ont
cherché à décrire des singularités locales, des mœurs rares, et à
nous faire goûter la saveur de quelque terroir isolé et sauvage, lui
s’est établi au cœur de la nation, là où tout le sang afflue, où l’on
jouit et où l’on souffre le plus, où le plus grand nombre d’humains,
passant et repassant sous l’œil de l’observateur, s’offrent sans cesse
à son étude. Il a réagi contre l’idée que la vie des capitales nivelle et
uniformise tout; il y découvre, au contraire, une variété infinie de
caractères et de tempéraments, et c’est dans les milieux que leur
médiocrité et leur insignifiance semblent condamner à l’oubli, chez
les petits bourgeois, les petits employés et les humbles de toute
nature, qu’il aime à s’introduire et qu’il choisit de préférence ses
héros. La banalité d’une existence bourgeoise, dans le cercle
tracé par les exigences sociales, loin de le détourner, l’attire; sous la
monotonie du train-train journalier, il découvre des passions aussi
intenses, des vertus aussi sublimes, des ridicules ou des vices aussi
accusés que dans toute autre région de la société. Je dirai même
que le contraste entre les figures originales, les individualités qu’il
sait composer et le fond terne du milieu d’où elles émergent leur
donne un relief extraordinaire. Dans plusieurs romans de cette série,
Galdós est descendu plus bas encore, dans le monde infernal de la
misère et du vice. Comme le poète, il s’est dit un jour:

Or, discendiam omai a maggior pietà.

Pénétré d’une immense commisération pour toutes les victimes


de nos tristes institutions, pour tous les vaincus dans l’âpre lutte pour
l’existence, les faibles, les éclopés et les infirmes, il a fait pousser et
éclore dans ces bas-fonds quelques fleurs d’un parfum délicieux:
telle la señá Benina, l’héroïne de Misericordia; telle une adorable
figure d’enfant, le Luisito de Miau; tel l’exquis Nazarin, la plus
puissante, la plus tolstoïenne des créations de Galdós, qu’il faudra
nous hâter de traduire.
Tout en restant exclusivement espagnol dans la description des
mœurs, la condition moyenne et urbaine du personnel de ses livres,
aussi bien que le large courant d’humanité qui y circule, font qu’il
nous intéresse et nous touche beaucoup plus directement que
d’autres de ses compatriotes dont la couleur locale, les coutumes
agrestes et certaines étrangetés de pensée et de langage nous
étonnent et nous désorientent assez. D’autres qualités encore nous
rapprochent du conteur espagnol: je veux parler de sa langue et de
son style, faciles et colorés, mais surtout bien adaptés aux sujets, un
style qui, à force de simplicité, finit par ne plus en être un et se
contente de reproduire la vie. Les préoccupations de l’artiste cèdent
toujours chez lui à la nécessité impérieuse à ses yeux de faire vrai,
de dire ce qu’il faut pour poser un personnage et nous le présenter
tel que nous devons le voir. Galdós nous a lui-même raconté quelles
difficultés il eut à surmonter pour atteindre ce résultat, qui consiste
essentiellement à se tenir à égale distance de la copie littérale du
langage parlé et du style livresque, figé en Espagne plus qu’ailleurs
dans les atours d’un autre âge. Certains délicats préfèrent
l’«écriture» plus curieusement fouillée et rafraîchie de bonnes
senteurs marines et alpestres de Pereda, ou bien la grâce
andalouse et le mysticisme érotique de Valera; mais le plus grand
nombre va à Galdós dont le réalisme de bon aloi saisit et retient par
sa franchise, par l’absence de toute «littérature».
Ajouterai-je un dernier trait qui accroît encore notre estime pour
l’homme et pour l’écrivain? L’œuvre est saine, absolument saine.
Ennemi de l’esprit étroit et de petite chapelle qui fait consister le
salut dans l’affiliation à certain parti politique ou dans les pratiques
de telle religion; non moins ennemi d’une morale prêchée par
l’auteur sous le couvert de ses personnages dont le caractère et les
allures ne suivent plus dès lors leur développement normal, mais
servent de porte-parole à une cause,—ce qui a lieu constamment
chez Fernán Caballero et parfois chez Pereda—notre peintre
vigoureux et sincère de la société espagnole contemporaine
possède un idéal, idéal des plus élevés, qui tend: en politique, à la
suppression des coteries mesquines, des petites tyrannies, du
caciquisme, comme on dit là-bas, et des mille injustices d’un
système gouvernemental antipathique au tempérament espagnol et
faussé dans son application; en religion, à une large diffusion de la
vraie charité chrétienne, sans aucune hostilité d’ailleurs contre les
formes du culte établi, mais aussi sans confiance aveugle dans la
vertu de ces formes. Point de réticences, point de ménagements
puérils ni de pruderie, quand il s’agit de montrer des vices et des
laideurs; mais, en revanche, nul étalage complaisant de
malpropretés physiques ou morales. Et partout, même dans les
compartiments les plus sombres de la grande vallée de larmes,
toujours de la lumière, de la joie, de la bonne humeur, une petite
étoile qui luit au-dessus de la pauvre humanité dolente, qui la guide,
la réconforte et l’arrache de temps à autre à ses souffrances et à ses
misères. Qu’on en juge par ce livre!

Alfred MOREL-FATIO.
MISÉRICORDE

La paroisse... ou mieux... l’église de San-Sebastian a deux


aspects comme certaines personnes, deux faces qui sont
certainement plus gracieuses que belles; l’une regarde les maisons
d’en bas, qu’elle enfile par la rue Cañizares, l’autre est tournée vers
le clan aristocratique de la place del Angel. On retrouverait dans ces
deux façades un fidèle reflet du plus pur Madrid, où le caractère
architectonique et le caractère moral s’associent merveilleusement.
Sur la façade sud, et au-dessus d’une porte grossière, se trouve
campée l’image baroque du saint, tout recroquevillé, dans une
attitude plus chorégraphique que religieuse; sur celle du nord,
dépourvue d’ornements, pauvre et vulgaire, se dresse la tour, qui
ressemble à une personne les poings sur la hanche, voulant dire ses
quatre vérités à la place del Angel. D’un côté comme de l’autre, il
faut le reconnaître, les faces ou façades ne manquent point d’une
certaine ampleur; elles comportent de jolies cours fermées par des
treillages vermoulus, mais pleines de vases avec de gracieux
arbustes et aussi un petit marché de fleurs qui récrée la vue. Dans
aucun endroit comme là, on ne saurait trouver plus complètement le
charme, la sympathie, le côté angélique, pour parler andalou, qui
émane comme un parfum léger des choses vulgaires, ou du moins
de quelques-unes des choses vulgaires qui remplissent le monde à
l’infini.
Laid et long comme une feuille entière de petites images ou
comme une romance d’aveugle, l’édifice bifrontin, avec sa tour
barbienne, la petite coupole de la chapelle de la neuvaine, ses toits
irréguliers, ses murs découpés badigeonnés d’un ton d’ocre, ses
cours fleuries, ses ferrures rouillées sur la rue et son campanile
élevé, présente encore un ensemble gracieux, piquant, galant pour
le dire en un mot. C’est un petit coin de Madrid que nous devons
conserver avec amour, comme des antiquaires soigneux, parce que
le rococo monumental est aussi un art. Admirons donc ce San-
Sebastian, legs des temps anciens, une image ridicule et grossière
si l’on veut, mais conservons-la comme un joli magot.
Bien qu’elle ait l’honneur d’être la porte principale, la porte du sud
est la moins fréquentée par les fidèles les jours ordinaires, matin et
soir. Toutes les personnes distinguées entrent par la porte du nord,
qui a l’air d’une porte dissimulée, mais familière. Point n’est besoin
de faire une statistique des paroissiens qui arrivent au culte sacré
par une porte ou une autre, car nous avons un recenseur infaillible,
les pauvres. En effet, la troupe de misère est plus nombreuse et plus
formidable au nord qu’au sud; c’est là surtout qu’elle guette le
passage de la charité, comme une garde de hallebardiers chargés
de recevoir humainement le péage à la frontière du divin, ou la
contribution imposée aux consciences impures qui vont là où l’on
peut se laver.
Ceux qui montent la garde au nord occupent des places choisies
sous le porche et aux deux entrées par les rues de las Huertas et de
San-Sebastian, et le choix de leurs places est si stratégiquement
établi qu’aucun fidèle ne pourrait leur échapper ni à l’entrée ni à la
sortie, à moins de passer par les toits.
Dans les jours rigoureux de l’hiver, la pluie ou le froid glacial ne
permettent pas aux intrépides soldats de la misère de rester à l’air
libre, bien qu’ils soient miraculeusement constitués pour supporter
de pied ferme les inclémences de l’atmosphère: ils se replient en
bon ordre au tunnel ou petit passage qui dessert l’entrée du temple
paroissial et y forment deux ailes, l’une à droite et l’autre à gauche.
On comprend bien qu’avec cette formidable occupation du terrain et
cette admirable tactique aucun chrétien ne peut échapper, et forcer
ce tunnel n’est pas moins difficile et glorieux que le mémorable
passage des Thermopyles. L’aile droite et l’aile gauche de ce
contingent aguerri ne se composent pas de moins d’une douzaine et
demie de vieillards audacieux, de vieilles indomptées, d’aveugles
importuns, renforcés d’enfants d’une activité irrésistible, étant
entendu que l’on puisse appliquer ce terme à l’art de la mendicité, et
ils restent là jusqu’à ce que Dieu fasse sonner l’heure de la soupe, et
alors cette armée va se rationner rapidement pour revenir avec un
nouveau courage entreprendre la campagne de l’après-midi. A la
tombée de la nuit, s’il n’y a pas neuvaine avec sermon, saint rosaire
avec méditation et conférence, ou adoration nocturne, l’armée se
retire, chaque combattant se dirigeant à pas lents vers son domicile.
Nous les suivrons tout à l’heure dans leur intéressant retour aux
logis où ils vivent si mal.
Rapidement, observons-les dans leur rude lutte pour leur
misérable existence, sur le terrible champ de bataille dans lequel
nous ne rencontrerons pas de mares de sang ni de butins militaires,
mais bien des querelles violentes ou de féroces disputes.
Une matinée de mars, venteuse et glaciale, durant laquelle les
paroles gelaient au sortir de la bouche, et où les visages des
passants étaient fouettés par une poussière que le froid rendait
semblable à de la neige molle, l’armée des mendiants se replia à
l’intérieur du passage. Un aveugle avancé en âge, du nom de
Pulido, était seul resté à la porte de fer de San-Sebastian, et il devait
avoir un corps de bronze et de l’alcool ou du mercure dans les
veines, pour pouvoir résister à une pareille température, toujours
fort, bien portant, et avec des couleurs que pouvaient, certes, lui
envier les fleurs des parterres voisins. La fleuriste s’était retirée à
l’intérieur de sa guérite et, renfermant avec elle les pots de fleurs et
les immortelles, s’était mise à tresser des couronnes pour enfants
morts.
Dans la cour qui fut le cimetière de San-Sebastian, comme
l’indique l’inscription bleue placée sur le mur au-dessus de la porte,
on ne voyait d’êtres vivants que de rares femmes qui traversaient la
rue pour entrer ou sortir de l’église en se couvrant la bouche avec la
main qui tenait leur livre d’heures, ou quelque clerc se dirigeant vers
la sacristie, avec le manteau soulevé par le vent, comme un
perroquet noir qui secoue ses plumes et étire ses ailes, retenant
l’étoffe avec ses mains crispées, comme si elle eût voulu prendre
son vol au haut de la tour.
Aucun des entrants ou des sortants ne faisait attention au pauvre
Pulido, tant on était habitué à le voir impassible dans sa faction,
aussi insensible à la neige qu’à la chaleur suffocante, avec la main
tendue, mal enveloppé dans un petit manteau ridicule de drap
sombre, modulant sans s’arrêter des paroles tristes, qui sortaient
gelées de ses lèvres.
Ce jour-là, le vent jouait avec les poils blancs de sa barbe, les
relevant sur son nez et les plaquant sur son visage rendu humide
par les larmes que le froid intense faisait couler de ses yeux morts. Il
était neuf heures et l’homme n’avait pas encore étrenné. Un jour
plus chien, on ne l’avait pas encore vu de toute l’année, qui depuis
les Rois venait à être une des plus pitoyables, car le jour du saint
patron (20 janvier) il avait fait à peine douze petites pièces, soit
moitié de l’année passée, à la Chandeleur et la neuvaine du
bienheureux san Blas, qui d’autres années avaient été si
fructueuses, étaient ressorties avec des journées de six et de cinq
petites pièces, durement conquises.
«Il me semble à moi—disait, parlant à ses haillons le bon Pulido,
buvant ses larmes et essuyant les poils de sa barbe—que l’ami san
José nous fait bien grise mine! Qui se souvient de la San-José de la
première année d’Amédée? Non, les saints ne se conduisent pas
comme ils le devraient. Tout arrive, Seigneur, excepté les produits de
la fête, et l’on ne voit plus, comme on dit, la pauvreté honorée. Tout
est pour les coquins, comme dans la politique palpitante, et pour
ceux des souscriptions pour les victimes. Pour moi, puisse Dieu
envoyer aux anges tous ceux qui inventent dans les feuilles des
victimes pour frustrer les pauvres légitimes et de droit! Oui, certes, il
y a des aumônes, il y a de bonnes âmes; mais les libéraux, le
bienheureux congrès d’un côté et de l’autre les congrégations, les
meetings et les discours, et tant de choses de l’imprimerie font
tomber la volonté de la plupart des bons chrétiens.... C’est ma
manière de voir: Ils disent tous qu’ils voudraient qu’il n’y eût plus de
pauvres et ils ne pensent qu’à sauver leur âme. Mais patience! Je
connais le galant qui fait sortir les âmes du purgatoire.... Oui, oui,
elles pourriront, mesdames, leurs âmes, sans que la chrétienté fasse
seulement attention à elles, parce que... à moi, qu’on ne m’en parle
pas: la prière des riches, avec la barrique bien pleine et le corps
confortablement abrité, n’a pas de valeur.... Non, par Dieu, elle n’a
pas de valeur!»
Il en était là de son monologue quand il fut accosté par un
homme de petite taille, avec un long manteau qui l’enveloppait
complètement, replet, d’environ soixante années, d’aspect doux, la
barbe blanche coupée court, et vêtu avec négligence; ce dernier, lui
mettant dans la main un gros sou pris dans une sacoche, qui sans
doute contenait ses aumônes du jour, lui dit: «Tu ne l’attendais pas
aujourd’hui—dis la vérité—avec un pareil temps?...
—Si, que je l’attendais, mon bon seigneur don Carlos, répliqua
l’aveugle en baisant la monnaie, parce que c’est aujourd’hui
l’anniversaire, et vous ne pouviez manquer, quand bien même le
zéro du terremotos aurait gelé (il voulait sans nul doute dire du
termometros).
—C’est vrai, je ne manque jamais. Grâce à Dieu, je me défends,
et ce n’est pas un faible miracle avec cette gelée et cet affreux vent
du nord, capable de donner une pneumonie au cheval de la place
Mayor. Et toi, Pulido, fais attention; pourquoi ne rentres-tu pas à
l’intérieur?
—Je suis de bronze, seigneur don Carlos, et la mort ne veut pas
de moi. On est mieux ici avec ce petit vent qu’à l’intérieur avec ces
vieilles charlatanes, sans éducation.... Je sais ce que je dis:
l’éducation est la première des choses, et sans éducation comment
voulez-vous qu’il y ait de la charité? Seigneur don Carlos, que le
Seigneur vous augmente et vous tienne en gloire!...»
Avant que l’aveugle eût terminé sa phrase, don Carlos était parti
précipitamment; il le fit ainsi, parce que le terrible ouragan, ayant eu
prise dans son manteau entr’ouvert, avait replié toute l’étoffe autour
de sa tête, faisant des enroulements et des tours, comme un rouleau
de toile ou un tapis arraché par le vent qui viendrait battre contre la
porte, et il entra bruyamment et tumultueusement, débarrassant
péniblement sa tête des plis qui l’enveloppaient.

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