Proyecto eTwinning

1. THE GALDÓS’OPTIMISM: EDUCATION AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION
The text approaches Galdós' work from different perspectives, maintaining the Spanish society in
the centre of his reflections. Galdós was a man engaged with the renovation of Spain understanding
de education as the starting point in order to get a social transformation. Through his texts, Galdós
denounces the lacks of the Spanish Society and has an active role in its transformation into a more
tolerant society.
More in detail, the text also explains the relation between Galdós’ texts and society. In his work its
perceived an effort to catch up the reality and understand the human nature, but always in an
interrogative way. He uses his imagination to reflect the daily and political life of his time through
the creation of different characters and situations. Galdos seems to have a great ability
understanding the context of social and political situation and shows his commitment to denouncing
social, religious and political injustice.
Dealing with the topic of education, Galdós describes it as a very important factor of social
regeneration. On his work he criticises the terrible situation of teaching and the lack of attention to
childhood problems. However, he recognizes the education as a tool to overcome the political,
social and cultural situation of Spanish life on his time. He shares some points of view with other
writers of the same period about the relevance of education, although he doesn't trust on the society
reaction. He thinks that the real change should start individually and then it should reach the rest of
the society. Galdós sees in science and education the main piece into the process of transformation.
Education, which is important in all the work of Galdós, acquires a special significance in the novel
“El caballero encantado” (1909).
In its own way, as with Don Quijote, “El caballero encantado” is the narration of a utopian future of
a suggestive and attractive fable for a demoralized people. The narrative framework, by remarking
the fantastic, can make a character come into contact with the entire historical dimension of his own
country. Beyond specific allusions to contemporary events, the text constitutes a reflective and
critical discourse on the grave crisis -historical and spiritual- that runs in Spain at the end of XIX
century and beginning of XX.
The theme of education runs through the novel from beginning to end. The critic to the poor school
situation is very hard when a character, named don Alquiboro, which is a small town´s teacher
without money to live needs to ask for charity.
We see how Galdós, from a bitter and unfair reality, build with his desires and imagination a
wealthy future for the country. Galdós is confident of the good future to come to Spain despite the
dark present.
Many times, Galdós shows he is against the social injustice or class privilege, but also expresses his
desire for a modern and renewed society, which will be the framework of Spanish citizens’ lives. He
considered science and education as weapons of future.
Victoria S. and José L. (C11 A Coruña)