Three Generations of Women in Barcelona: A Story of Dreams and Frustrations
Three Generations of Women in Barcelona
A Family Saga
Ramona, adéu analyzes the lives of three women across three generations in Barcelona, exploring the impact of Catalan society’s patriarchal structures on their dreams and identities. The novel highlights the struggles women faced in different historical periods, showcasing their resilience and the evolving social landscape.
The Mundetas
The Grandmother (1900s)
Living in a conservative environment at the turn of the 20th century, the grandmother, also named Mundeta, marries a rational man, leading a seemingly monotonous life. However, her diary reveals a dreamy, religious, and romantic personality, contrasting with her outward submissiveness. Her story reflects the limited options available to women of her time.
The Mother (Republic and Civil War Era)
The second Mundeta experiences the tumultuous period of the Republic and the Spanish Civil War. Educated within the Eixample district’s bourgeoisie, she faces a double life of frustration and hidden desires. Shy and inadequate, she conforms to societal expectations of marriage and motherhood, a stark contrast to her aspirations.
The Daughter (1960s)
The third Mundeta, living during the late 1960s, navigates the university environment and fights for personal expression. She idealizes her partner, allowing him to take the lead, reflecting the lingering influence of traditional gender roles.
Narrative Techniques and Setting
The novel employs fragmentation, parallelism, and repetition to reinforce its themes. It begins and ends with the mother’s first-person narration, recounting a single day during the Barcelona bombing of 1938. The central part alternates between the three Mundetas’ stories, each separated by blank spaces, creating a fragmented yet interconnected narrative. The shared name “Mundeta” emphasizes the continuity of their experiences across generations.
The grandmother’s story is further developed through her diary entries, spanning from 1894 to 1919, offering intimate insights into her personal life. The mother’s and daughter’s stories are primarily told in the third person, with occasional shifts to first-person interior monologues.
Barcelona serves as the backdrop for the novel, reflecting the city’s transformation and growth throughout the different periods. From the bourgeois Eixample district to areas like Gràcia and the Ramblas, the setting mirrors the changing social and historical context of each Mundeta’s life.