''Doña Perfecta'' (1876) is a 19th-century
realist novel by
Benito Pérez Galdós
Benito Pérez Galdós (May 10, 1843 – January 4, 1920) was a Spanish Spanish Realist literature, realist novelist. He was the leading literary figure in 19th-century Spain, and some scholars consider him second only to Miguel de Cervantes ...
from what is called the first of Galdós's three epochs in his novels of social analysis.
Plot summary
The action occurs in 19th century Spain, when a young liberal named Don José (Pepe) Rey, arrives in a cathedral city named Orbajosa, with the intention of marrying his cousin Rosario. This was a
marriage of convenience arranged between Pepe's father Juan and Juan's sister, Perfecta.
Upon getting to know each other, Pepe and Rosario declare their eternal love, but in steps Don Inocencio, the cathedral canon, who meddles and obstructs the marriage as well as the good intentions of Doña Perfecta and her brother Don Juan. Over the course of time, several events lead up to a confrontation between Pepe Rey and his aunt Perfecta (supposedly based on Galdós's difficult relationship with his mother),
which is caused by her refusal to allow Pepe and Rosario to marry, because Pepe is a non-believer. The novel ends up with the death of Pepe Rey due to his aunt Perfecta. Rosario turns mad and ends up in a madhouse.
The novel illustrates the great power that the church wielded. It also describes the differences between the traditional, provincial outlook, and the modern, liberal outlook of
Madrid, the capital.
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
The
lost 1918 American silent film ''
Beauty in Chains'' was adopted from the novel.
In 1951,
Alejandro Galindo directed a
film adaptation
A film adaptation is the transfer of a work or story, in whole or in part, to a feature film. Although often considered a type of derivative work, film adaptation has been conceptualized recently by academic scholars such as Robert Stam as a dial ...
written by
Gunther Gerzso set in Mexican sites and times with
Dolores del Río
María de los Dolores Asúnsolo y López Negrete (3 August 1904 – 11 April 1983), known professionally as Dolores del Río (), was a Mexican actress. With a career spanning more than 50 years, she is regarded as the first major female Latin Am ...
as Doña Perfecta.
In 1977, the film version was written and directed by César Fernández Ardavín.
Julia Gutiérrez Caba
Julia Gutiérrez Caba OAXS MML (born on 20 October 1934 in Madrid) is a Spanish theatre and film actress.
Biography
She is the daughter of actors Emilio Gutiérrez Esteban and Irene Caba Alba and sister of the actress Irene Gutiérrez Caba ...
played Doña Perfecta. The cast included other actors such as
José Luis López Vázquez, Manuel Sierra,
Victoria Abril,
Emilio Gutiérrez Caba,
Fernando Sancho and
Mirta Miller.
In 1985, there was a TV version made in
Venezuela by
Venezolana de Televisión with
Lupita Ferrer as Doña Perfecta.
References
External links
Doña Perfecta(bilingual e-book with Spanish and English versions side-by-side).
1876 novels
19th-century Spanish novels
Novels by Benito Pérez Galdós
Novels set in Spain
Spanish novels adapted into films
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