Miguel de Unamuno’s *San Manuel Bueno, Mártir*: Existential Conflict
Miguel de Unamuno: Life and Context
Biographical Sketch
The novel San Manuel Bueno, Mártir by Miguel de Unamuno was published in 1931. Its author reflects all aspects of his thinking and writing style in this work.
Miguel de Unamuno was born in Bilbao in 1864. After years of studying classical philology at the University of Madrid, he took the chair of Greek at the University of Salamanca in 1891. He resided in Salamanca until his death. Appointed rector, he was later removed due to his opposition to the dictatorship of General Primo de Rivera and banished to Fuerteventura, from where he fled to seek refuge in Paris. Traces of his stay in the Canary Islands are found in the books De Fuerteventura a París and Andanzas y visiones españolas. Upon his return to Spain, he was received with enthusiasm. His critical view of the Republic led him to initially support the uprising of General Franco. However, he quickly distanced himself from the new regime. Removed from his post and confined to his home, he died on the last day of 1936.
Religious Crisis and Inner Conflict
In 1897, Unamuno experienced a significant religious crisis that marked him forever. His subsequent reflections were shaped by the experience of the Christian religion as an inner conflict, or “agony” as he called it. This inner conflict is particularly well-reflected in the novel San Manuel Bueno, Mártir.
Unamuno’s Place and Ideas
Generation of ’98 Connection
Unamuno is considered a member of the Generation of ’98. Considering the theme of Spain, his use of traditional language alongside religion, the concept of “intra-history,” and his existentialist approaches, he can be firmly placed within this generation.
Historical Context: Spain in 1931
This novel was published in 1931, a time when the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera had definitively fallen, leading to the Second Spanish Republic. It was a period marked by declared ideological and social conflicts that would eventually culminate in the Spanish Civil War.
Key Themes in the Novel
In this novel, we find Unamuno’s characteristic existential conflicts, anxiety, and the religious struggle that unfolds within individuals. However, we also encounter the political Unamuno, who voices his opinions on contemporary issues: the confrontation between left and right, the church’s role in civil society, and the meaning of religion.
The Nature of Unamuno’s Novel
Unamuno’s Concept of the Philosophical Novel
Unamuno’s novel is fundamentally philosophical. Generally, it serves the author as a vehicle to present existential, philosophical, moral, or religious problems.
Examples of Unamuno’s Novels
- Paz en la guerra presents the relationship of the self with its world.
- Abel Sánchez presents an anatomy of envy.
- Tulio Montalbán is a short novel about the inner workings of defeat and the true personality versus the public image of the same man.
- San Manuel Bueno, Mártir represents the culmination of Unamuno’s consciousness, fully realizing a truth – not the truth of death, but the truth of life.
San Manuel Bueno, Mártir is a novel of ideas; it is the work of a thinker who uses literature to communicate.
Plot Summary: *San Manuel Bueno, Mártir*
We can distinguish several parts to the narrative:
- In the first part, Ángela (Angelita), the narrator, introduces the protagonist and hero of the novel, Don Manuel. He is a village priest devoted to his parishioners, full of charity and apparent faith, yet seems to hide a unique secret.
- The second part concerns Lázaro, Ángela’s brother. He is an intellectual, liberal, and anticlerical figure who initially intends to remove his sister from Don Manuel’s influence. However, he ends up becoming Don Manuel’s confidant when the priest, realizing Lázaro is a man who should not be deceived, reveals his secret: he has no faith, but preaches charity so that the people may live in peace and tranquility.