The Pazos de Ulloa

Next in a PROFESSOR we are going to focus on a classic of Spanish literature, The Pazos de Ulloa by the Galician writer Emilia Pardo Bazán and that it is one of the most important works of the late nineteenth century. That is why we will offer you a brief summary of The Pazos de Ulloa so that you get to know this work better and understand why it is one of the essential works in the history of literature. Keep reading and discover this work by Pardo Bazán in a summary by parts of the novel. You'll love it!

Index

1. Introduction to the world of Emilia Pardo Bazán
2. Summary of the first part of Los Pazos de Ulloa
3. Second and third part of Los Pazos de Ulloa
4. The end of Los Pazos de Ulloa

It is difficult to understand literary works in all their magnitude if we do not know well the environment and the time in which writers live. In this case, Emilia Pardo Bazán was born into a noble Galician family, daughter of Count José Pardo Bazán.

From a very young age, she found a very close interest in letters in her father's library. There, in her attendance at the French school in Madrid, she was gradually introduced to the works of authors such as Jean Racine and La Fontaine.

The literary career of Emilia Pardo Bazán begins very early, since she is only 15 years old and she already writes her first works. She so she will come into contact with him Krausism through Francisco Giner de los Ríos, a good friend, and in 1886 he wrote what would be his top novel, The Pazos de Ulloa, with a very clear naturalistic technique, which can be observed in almost all of her career.

Throughout his work, Pardo Bazán collaborated with magazines and newspapers, wrote essays, articles, travel chronicles, stories and her novels in a truly prolific literary career until 1921, when her diabetes condition became complicated and she died.

Image: Slideshare

We can say, before entering the summary of Los Pazos de Ulloa, that is divided into five parts that are distributed throughout 30 chapters, developing various characters and places in a very natural tone, typical of its author.

So, as it is a fairly extensive work, it is better to separate the summary into temporary blocks, in this way it is easier for you to understand.

First part, Julián arrives at Los Pazos

The character who centers the story is the chaplain Julián Álvarez, who is sent as manager of the administration of the house of the Marquis de Ulloa, where he will have to take care of Perucho, the grandson and son of the servants Primitivo and Sabel.

Soon, Julián discovers that Perucho is the illegitimate son of the marquis, whom he also finds after a few days outside the pazo, beating Sabel and the child in a harsh scene in the kitchen.

Finally, after a talk between the Marquis and Julián, the nobleman is convinced by the chaplain to leave the pazos for a while and find a woman to marry.

Now we will continue with this summary of The Pazos de Ulloa speaking of the events that take place in the second and third parts of the play.

Second part, Julián and the marquis march to Santiago

They both march on the way to Santiago, where they meet the Pardo family, relatives of the Marquis, who befriends her cousin Rita, although he asks her sister, Nucha, in marriage.

Third part, Julián and the Marquis returns to Los Pazos after getting married

After returning to the Pazos, Julián informs the Marquis's servants of the new marriage. Thus, she has to prepare the return of the nobles, who return a few months later. When the nobleman becomes interested in Sabel and Perucho, he discovers that his attitude has changed in the new situation.

Shortly after, Ella Nucha becomes pregnant, at which point she discovers the existence of Perucho, whom she considers a godson of the Marquis, her husband.

Months later, Nucha gives birth to a girl in a complicated delivery that leaves her in poor health. And that's when Julián becomes especially fond of the new baby. However, one morning she watches Sabel leave the marquis's room, a fact that displeases him.

The chaplain stays in the Pazos, but everything starts to get complicated. Nucha discovers that Perucho is the son of the Marquis, who in turn stands in the elections using the money that Primitivo achieves through deception, and, for worse, he does not win them either.

Finally, everything gets very complicated. Primitivo ends up being murdered and Perucho hiding his stepsister in a hórreo for fear of what might happen, but the girl finally disappears. However, the accused is Julián, who is expelled from the Pazos, to which he will return ten years later.

And to finish with this summary we will talk about the final part that is, when the return to the Pazos de Julián.

After some time in Santiago, he receives the news of the death of Nucha, whose grave he visits when he returns to Ulloa, to meet again with Perucho and his stepsister, who has the name of Manolita.

Image: SlidePlayer

If you want to read more articles similar to The Pazos de Ulloa - Brief summary, we recommend that you enter our category of History of Literature.