Modern Spain, a myth: regeneration through reeducation in Santiago Ramón y Cajal’s Vacation Stories (1905)

ABSTRACT

This essay explores the regenerationist thought of Santiago Ramón y Cajal in his Vacation Stories (1905). Two stories of the collection, "The Accursed House" and "The Natural Man and The Artificial Man", can be read as an allegory of Spain at the end of the century nineteenth. In "The Accursed House", the indiano scientist Julián tries to convince Inés to adopt the same scientific perspective of the world that he has. Similarly, he sets out to regenerate his degenerated manor, to which he has given the suggestive nickname Villa Inés. The story serves as a model for the regeneration of Inés, who represents traditional Spaniards, and Villa Inés, which represents Spain. For its part, the story of Esperaindeo Carcabuey in "The Natural Man" offers a warning, as it tells of his failed life, which he links directly with his inferior education (impregnated as this was with metaphysics). Only by adopting Jaime's progressivism can Esperaindeo change the direction of his life. In both stories, Cajal links the reeducation of the characters with his more comprehensive interest in national regeneration. In view of the allegorical impulse of these stories, Vacation Stories constitutes a foundational myth on which Cajal constructs his vision of a modern Spain

RESUMEN

No disponible