Ambiguous Angels - Gender in the Novels of Galdos

The contradictory nature of the work of Benito Pé rez Galdó s, Spains greatest modern novelist, is brought to the fore in Catherine Jagoes innovative and rigorous study. Revising commonly held views of his feminism, she explores the relation of Galdó ss novels to the "woman question" in Spain, arguing that after 1892 the muted feminist discourse of his early work largely disappears. While his later novels have been interpreted as celebrations of the emancipated new woman, Jagoe contends that they actually reinforce the conservative, bourgeois model of frugal, virtuous womanhood--the angel of the house.

Using primary sources such as periodicals, medical texts, and conduct literature, Jagoes examination of the evolution of feminism makes "Ambiguous Angels" valuable to anyone interested in gender, culture, and narrative in nineteenth-century Europe.

About the author

Catherine Jagoe is Assistant Professor of Spanish at Northern Illinois University.

Summary

Contradicting the traditional views that Benito Perez Galdos, one of Spain's greatest modern novelists, was a champion of the emancipated new woman, this study argues that his views actually reinforced the conservative model of frugal, virtuous womanhood - the angel of the house.

Product details

• Authors: Catherine Jagoe, Jagoe Catherine
• Publisher: University Of California Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 08.09.1994
• EAN: 9780520083561
• ISBN: 978-0-520-08356-1
• No. of pages: 248
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > English linguistics / literary studies; Spain, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Women's Studies, LITERARY CRITICISM / European / Spanish & Portuguese, LITERARY CRITICISM / Women Authors, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / 19th Century, Spanish, Literary studies: c 1800 to c 1900, Literary studies: general, Gender studies: women, Literary studies: c 1500 to c 1800, Literary studies: fiction, novelists & prose writers, Literary studies: fiction, novelists and prose writers, Gender studies: women and girls, LITERARY CRITICISM / Novel as Form