A Woman UnknownA Woman Unknown

Voices from a Spanish LifeVoices from a Spanish Life

LucLucíaía Graves Graves

General characteristicsGeneral characteristics

Individual vs. collective memoir.Individual vs. collective memoir. Must be representative of its historical moment, Must be representative of its historical moment,

and reflect the culture of the author’s time.and reflect the culture of the author’s time. The writer has self-awareness, is looking for The writer has self-awareness, is looking for

her/himself, searching for her/his identity.her/himself, searching for her/his identity. The personal details revealed are selective The personal details revealed are selective

rather than exhaustive.rather than exhaustive. There is unity in form. Which can be reached There is unity in form. Which can be reached

through:through: focus on a specific period in the author’s life focus on a specific period in the author’s life a specific theme in her/his life a specific theme in her/his life the analysis of her/his personality through an the analysis of her/his personality through an

important facet in his/her life.important facet in his/her life.

Women’s autobiographies Women’s autobiographies add:add: Domestic themes: family, friends, domestic activitiesDomestic themes: family, friends, domestic activities Identification as daughter, wife or mother to someone elseIdentification as daughter, wife or mother to someone else Society’s responses to women’s ambitionsSociety’s responses to women’s ambitions The struggle to fit in with family and community, while The struggle to fit in with family and community, while

avoiding the restrictions that these can impose.avoiding the restrictions that these can impose. the need to balance the requirements of loved ones and their the need to balance the requirements of loved ones and their

own needs.own needs. In contrast with the self-sufficient image male In contrast with the self-sufficient image male

autobiographers project, women tend to picture themselves autobiographers project, women tend to picture themselves as fragmented, multi-dimensionalas fragmented, multi-dimensional

– this self-image is often accompanied by a feeling of alienation this self-image is often accompanied by a feeling of alienation and insufficiencyand insufficiency

– in the end they project a sense of satisfaction for having in the end they project a sense of satisfaction for having overcome the obstaclesovercome the obstacles

An episodic and non-chronological structure, that sometimes An episodic and non-chronological structure, that sometimes seems disjointedseems disjointed

What themes are raised in the What themes are raised in the introductory chapter?introductory chapter?

• change: present vs. memory (6-7)change: present vs. memory (6-7)

• Graves’ relationship to Spain (9, 10)Graves’ relationship to Spain (9, 10)

• relationship to her mother (15)relationship to her mother (15)

• how to evaluate the past (10)how to evaluate the past (10)

• identity and family (9, 13)identity and family (9, 13)

• the importance of other women (16)the importance of other women (16)

• the nature of Catalonia (2)the nature of Catalonia (2)

““Above all, I need to rescue the Above all, I need to rescue the person I was during those twenty person I was during those twenty

years of residence in Catalonia from years of residence in Catalonia from the dangers of my own oblivion and the dangers of my own oblivion and rejection, because the present can rejection, because the present can

only be fully understood and only be fully understood and appreciated by looking at the appreciated by looking at the

finished pattern of the past, the finished pattern of the past, the pattern of cause and effect in events pattern of cause and effect in events

that have become history” (p. 15)that have become history” (p. 15)

In groups of three:In groups of three:

• discuss the character you have been discuss the character you have been assigned: what is her story? how assigned: what is her story? how have historic events affected her have historic events affected her situation?situation?

• develop a definition of Franco’s develop a definition of Franco’s ideology (include the “official story” ideology (include the “official story” vs. the real story). Find quotes to vs. the real story). Find quotes to exemplify your ideas.exemplify your ideas.

““Voices from a Spanish Life”Voices from a Spanish Life”

• BlancaBlanca

• SeSeñorita Mercedesñorita Mercedes

• OlgaOlga

• FranciscaFrancisca

• JimenaJimena

• Sister ValentinaSister Valentina

• ConchitaConchita

SecciSección Femeninaón Femenina

FrancoFranco

Lucia Graves and identityLucia Graves and identity

• languages: languages: compartmentalization (26, compartmentalization (26, 115)115)

• Persephone(146)Persephone(146)• exile (123)exile (123)• marriage (172)marriage (172)• translation (193)translation (193)• Spain/Cataluña vs. England Spain/Cataluña vs. England

(113)(113)• history history

– SephardimSephardim (210) (210) – Margarida de Prades (231)Margarida de Prades (231)

• Gaudí´s Sagrada Familia Gaudí´s Sagrada Familia (182)(182)

Sagrada Familia 1953

Unifying themesUnifying themes

• Language/culture and identityLanguage/culture and identity– For GravesFor Graves– For the CatalansFor the Catalans– For the Sephardic JewsFor the Sephardic Jews

• TranslationTranslation

• Experience of the Franco years (especially the Experience of the Franco years (especially the feminine experience)feminine experience)

• Exile/alterityExile/alterity

• The present and its relationship to the pastThe present and its relationship to the past

• Search for meaningSearch for meaning

The title? The title?

• Wife to Mr. MiltonWife to Mr. Milton

• 3 generations of Spanish women 3 generations of Spanish women (258)(258)

• stories of other womenstories of other women

• Graves and the recovery of her pastGraves and the recovery of her past

Structural characteristics Structural characteristics

• Linear/chronological developmentLinear/chronological development• Alternation between Graves’ story and those of Alternation between Graves’ story and those of

others (Blanca, Srta. Mercedes, Sister Valentina, others (Blanca, Srta. Mercedes, Sister Valentina, Olga, Jimena, Conchita)Olga, Jimena, Conchita)

• Circular (concentric circles):Circular (concentric circles):– Begins and ends with the hospital sceneBegins and ends with the hospital scene– Colors as representative of political situation (pp. 7 and Colors as representative of political situation (pp. 7 and

257)257)– FestesFestes de la de la MercMercè è (pp. 8 & 234)(pp. 8 & 234)

• Chapters on Sephardim and Margarida de PradesChapters on Sephardim and Margarida de Prades– As she progresses closer and closer to the present, author As she progresses closer and closer to the present, author

reaches deeper inside herself and delves farther into her reaches deeper inside herself and delves farther into her links with historylinks with history

• GaudGaudí´s Sagrada Familia as leitmotifí´s Sagrada Familia as leitmotif

Conclusion?Conclusion?

““I no longer see those years as futile or I no longer see those years as futile or empty” (p. 271)empty” (p. 271)