San Manuel Bueno, Martyr: A Tale of Faith and Illusion
San Manuel Bueno, Martyr: Structure
Narration and Narrative Technique
The narrative employs the “found manuscript” technique, reminiscent of Cervantes, creating a split between the author (Unamuno) and the reader. The story unfolds from Angela’s perspective.
External Structure
The novel comprises 25 sequences. The first 24 narrate Angela’s story, while the last serves as an epilogue by the author.
Internal Structure
The story unfolds in three parts, followed by the author’s epilogue:
- Sequences 1-8: Preliminary information about Don Manuel, conveyed through Angela’s hearsay and her brother’s notes.
- Sequences 9-20: The central narrative, beginning with Angela’s return to town, followed by Lázaro’s. This section reveals Don Manuel’s secret and culminates in his death.
- Sequences 21-24: Conclusion of Angela’s story.
- Sequence 25: Author’s epilogue.
Time and Narrative Ellipses
The passage of time is marked throughout the narrative, particularly concerning Angela’s age. The story also features narrative ellipses, or time jumps.
San Manuel Bueno, Martyr: Themes
Immortality, Faith, and the Illusion of Happiness
The novel explores Unamuno’s central obsessions: immortality and faith. It presents a choice between tragic truth and illusory happiness, with Unamuno seemingly favoring the latter—a stark contrast to existentialists like Sartre and Camus. Don Manuel prioritizes happiness, stating, “Truth? I cannot live with my truth.” He believes in the comforting power of religion and the dream of immortality.
Self-Denial and Love for Others
San Manuel Bueno, Martyr is a novel of self-denial and love. Paradoxically, a man without faith becomes an exemplar of charity.
The Problem of Salvation
The question of salvation is complex due to the ambiguity introduced by the split between Unamuno and Angela. Angela questions Don Manuel and Lázaro’s belief, wondering if they truly believed or merely pretended. Unamuno’s epilogue hints at a commitment to hope, but the question remains open for discussion.
San Manuel Bueno, Martyr: Abstract
Angela Carballino recounts the story of Don Manuel Bueno, the revered pastor of Valverde de Lucerna. Don Manuel is seen as a saint, dedicated to comforting the afflicted. However, Angela senses a hidden torment beneath his outward sanctity.
Upon Lázaro’s return, his initial anticlerical stance transforms into admiration for Don Manuel. The priest confides his secret to Lázaro: he lacks faith but maintains the illusion for the sake of his parishioners’ peace. Lázaro, convinced by Don Manuel’s selflessness, joins him in this charade.
Don Manuel dies without regaining faith, revered as a saint. Only Lázaro and Angela know his true inner struggle. After Lázaro’s death, Angela grapples with the question of their salvation.