Saturday, May 25, 2019

Dona Perfecta Essay

Dona Perfecta, written by B. Perez Galdos, is a novel that explores the conflict between the new progressive military campaign and the sure-enough(a) religious school of thought. This conflict takes place in the sm entirely Spanish village of Orbajosa. Narrow-minded Catholic zealots dominate Orbajosa. The most prominent of the zealots is Dona Perfecta. Dona is traditional Catholic and strives to fight any opposition to her fixed beliefs. Pepe Rey, her nephew, presents the biggest challenge to Dona because he is an engineer who relies on scientific fact rather than religious faith.Dona feels as though Pepe is challenging her and the towns livelihood. This belief leads Dona to not wholly turn the town against Pepe, but also to have him killed. Donas Catholic belief system is only a facade to her evil nature. The town of Orbajosa is presented to be a small yet inviting town. Pepe is welcomed to the town warmly and happily. Dona is the first to greet Pepe when the narrator states, th e sincere expression of her affection, was receiving him at the entrance itself in her loving arms (23). Dona appears to be a very loving and hospitable character.She also surprises Pepe with her lengthy preparations to his room when the narrator states, Pepe recognized in all the details of the room the diligent and loving hand of the woman (24). Dona has proven that she is capable of being kind and loving towards those who pose no threat to her lifestyle. However, it is only when Pepe denounces religion that Dona feels threatened and begins to revel her evil nature. When Pepe and the town canon, Don Inocencio, meet, the men clash with their ideals. Both are intelligent and therefore, are stubborn.Pepe reveals to Don Inocencio that erudition is more valid than religion when he states, Mysticism in religion, routine in science, mannerism in art, are failing, as the Pagan gods fell (36). Pepe expresses his opinions about science and religion without any hesitation. Don Incencio an d the towns people of Orbajosa feel that Pepe is resolutely against their beliefs. Increasing animosity is the result of Pepes progressive mind-set. Dona feels as though Pepe is a indebtedness to the towns way of life and the only way to get rid of the problem is to exterminate it completely.Dona is desperate to get rid of Pepe. She knows that Pepe poses the possibly to clog up the towns ideals with his progressive philosophy. Dona decides that the town must turn against Pepe. Dona accuses Pepe of being disrespectful in the church when she states, between thinking things and showing them in that irreverent manner, there is a distance which a man of good sense and good breeding should never cross (56). Dona feels the need to make baseless accusations about Pepe in separate to sway the public opinion against Pepe.Pepe himself recognizes the absurdity of Donas accusation when he states, I have shown no contempt for any one, nor do I shelter the ideas which you attribute to me (57). Pepe is troubled by the idea that his own aunt would accuse him of such trivial acts. Pepe knows that his progressive ideals are threatening to the town and are creating suspicion between him and Orbajosa. Dona knows that the only way to truly get rid of Pepe is to kill him. Dona is consumed with the idea that the town of Orbajosa is transitioning from a traditional mindset to a progressive mindset.In reaction, Dona orders the killing of Pepe. She then lies about the killing saying that Pepe committed suicide when she states, Pepe Rey at about twelve oclock last night entered the tend of the house and shot himself in the right temple (218). Dona manufactured this lie in order to cover up her evil action. Dona resorted to extreme and evil measures in order to preserve her way of thought. Her name Dona Perfecta is ironic in the sense that Dona is far from perfect because she is evil.The injustice that Dona commits revels not only the true hypocritical nature of Dona but also the hyp ocritical nature of Orbajosa as a whole. Dona Perfecta uses the conflict between Pepe and Dona to show the strong opposition the progressive movement faces. While Pepe was welcomed at first, he was soon ostracized and persecuted for his thoughts. The towns people of Orbajosa felt Pepe might threaten their way of life. Extreme measures were taken by Dona to put Pepe to rest. Perhaps Galdos intends the indorser to see that while people may appear to be good, in reality, they are not what they seem.

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