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Abel Snchez: The History of a Passion
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Wikipedia article
'Abel Snchez: A Story of Passion' is a 1917 novel by Miguel de Unamuno. Abel Sanchez is a re-telling of the story of Cain and Abel set in modern times, which uses the parable to explore themes of envy.
Plot
'Abel Snchez' is a version of the Biblical story of Cain and Abel. The Cain of the novel is named Joaquin. Though they are not brothers, they have grown up together, competing as brothers would. Abel becomes a famous and recognized painter while Joaquin becomes a well-known doctor. Joaquin's goal is to outdo Abel by making medical discoveries, thus competing with Abel's art by excelling at science, which also is an art. Joaquin always has been jealous of Abel and competitive with him, but what bothers him most is that Abel does not feel the same sense of rivalry. Abel marries Helena, Joaquin's cousin, whom Joaquin hoped to wed. To allay his envy and hatred, Joaquin marries Antonia, not out of love but simply to maintain his competitive standing with Abel. Abel and Helena have a son named Abelin, Joaquin and Antonia have a daughter named Joaquina. Joaquin lives out his jealous ambitions through his daughter. As the story of Cain and Abel ends, so does this novel. Reaching the point of utter hatred, Joaquin takes Abel's life. When Joaquin dies, he apologizes to his family. Realizing that his life was consumed by hatred and envy, he says that if only he had loved his wife, Antonia, she could have been his savior.
Replete with biblical comparisons, this book shows what one's life becomes when one is consumed by envy or hatred. Joaquin had no life of his own; his existence was only as the hater of Abel. Even though the protagonist is Joaquin, the book is titled 'Abel Snchez' because Joaquin's character is formed wholly from his intense feelings toward Abel.
References
* Unamuno, Miguel de (1928): Abel Sanchez, ed. de Carlos A. Charles A. Longhurst, Ctedra, Madrid, 1995.
* Abelln, Jos Luis (1985): a critical introduction to Abel Sanchez, Castalia, Madrid.
* Zamorano Arregui, Teresa M. (1996): Structure and narrative techniques in the short story of the Generation of 98: Unamuno, Azorin and Baroja, Schedules of RILCA EUNSA, Pamplona, 1998.
* Ayala, Francisco (1974): "The novel of Unamuno," The novel, Galds and Unamuno, Seix-Barral, Barcelona.
* Amors, Andrs (1971): "Unamuno: The novel as a search for" Introduction to the contemporary novel. Madrid, Anaya, pp. 265276.
* Claveria, Carlos (1953): "On the subject of Cain in the work of Unamuno," in Jos Luis Abelln, Issues of Unamuno, Gredos, Madrid, pp. 97129.
* Cobb, Christopher H. (1972): "On the development of Abel Sanchez", Journal of the Chair Miguel de Unamuno, XXII
* Diaz-Peterson, Rosendo (1972), "Abel Snchez de Unamuno, a conflict between life and scholasticism", Arbor, 341.
* Dez, Ricardo (1976): The aesthetic development of Unamuno's novel, Nova-Scholar, Madrid.
* Elizalde, Ignacio (1983): Miguel de Unamuno and his fiction, Caja de Ahorros Provincial de Guipuzcoa, San Sebastian.
* Gonzlez Egido, Luciano (1987): a critical introduction to Abel Sanchez, Alianza ed., Unamuno Library, 1997.
* Longhurst, Carlos A. (1995): a critical introduction to Abel Sanchez, ed. Ctedra, Madrid.
External pages
* [https://books.google.co.cr/books?id=iDps2Y1G5NsC&hl=es&source=gbs_book_other_versions 'Abel Snchez: una historia de pasin']
Category:1917 novels
Category:Novels by Miguel de Unamuno
Category:Cultural depictions of Cain and Abel
Category:Novels based on the Bible
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