ANALYSIS OF THE NOVEL MARÍA (BY JORGE ISAACS)

Biographical Data of the Author.

He was a Colombian poet and novelist, known for his work in the romantic genre. He was born on April 1st.
1837 in Santiago de Cali.
He engaged in different activities in the political field and commerce. Then, he ventured into the world of literature.
He wrote his first poems and some historical dramas between the years 1859 and 1860.
At the initiative of his friend José María Vergara y Vergara, he published his first book of Poems (1864) and made his debut.
literary through the group formed around the weekly El Mosaico, where Isaacs began to make known some of his
writings.
In May 1867, his masterpiece, María, was published in Bogotá, a novel that achieved immediate success, to the point of
re-edited more than twenty times throughout the 19th century. Recognized by literary critics as the best romantic novel of the
Latin America, María has provided its author the place in literary history that corresponds to the universal classics.
He spent his last years with his family in Ibagué (Tolima), where he passed away on April 17, 1875, due to malaria.
His Works.
Narrative:
Maria
Fania and Camilo
Lyrics:
To the Moon
Saul
The Land of Córdoba
To Elvira Silva
Other Works:
The Paternal House
The Tomb of the Soldier
The Radical Revolution of Antioquia
Study on the Indigenous Tribes of the State of Magdalena

Themes Present in the Work.

The development of first love.
The separation due to Efraín's studies and later because of María's death.
The nostalgia of a youthful romance, rebuilt through memories.
Social classes (slavery)
Highlight the landscape and natural wealth.
Exalt nationalism.
Attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors in the service of love.

Characters.
Primaries
María: Main female character, Efraín's girlfriend, daughter of Salomón, a Jewish man from Jamaica who leaves her under the care before he dies.
of Efraín's father. She was a very shy young woman who, as the story progresses, loses that timidity with her family and
Efraín. He remained silent all the time about his deadly illness (epilepsy), knowing that he would have a death
prematurely as it happened to her mother Sara. She loved Efraín with all her soul.
Main male character, in love with María, studied in Bogotá for 5 years and after becoming engaged
in marriage with her upon his return from Europe, he finds his hopes frustrated upon discovering that she has passed away during his absence.
Efraín's Father: a kind landowner from the Valle del Cauca, in whose house María remains under his care. He is the one who decides the
your son Efraín's trip to Europe to continue his medical studies, but unfortunately this is the reason why it intensifies.
the illness that leads María to an early death.
Ephraim's Mother: a good woman, a typical traditional wife of submissive character, whose presence in the novel is a symbol of prudence.
and good advice in adverse moments.
Emma is Efraín's sister and the confidante of lovers. Always ready to create favorable moments for them and to serve as their...
comfort in difficulties.

Supporting Characters.
Julián: Brother of Efraín, closely tied to María, from whom he receives an almost maternal love.
Eloísa and Felipe: Other siblings of Efraín.
Solomon: Cousin of Efrain's father and legitimate father of Maria, who, seeing himself ill and widowed, entrusts his daughter Maria to his cousin.
who raises her like a daughter.
José: Faithful servant of the family, hunter and in charge of taking care of Efraín's father's crops. He lived in a house in the forest with his
family.
Carlos: Efraín's best friend, study partner in Bogotá, and his total confidant.

Emigdio: Another of Efraín's best friends in Bogota.

Braulio: Nephew of José, hunter and husband of Transito.
Lucia and Transito: Daughters of José, and friends of Efraín's family.
Dr. Mayn: Family doctor, attended to María's first illness and her terminal illness. Treated the father's fever of
Efraín.
Feliciana: Housekeeper of the estate. She was Maria's nurse. Feliciana was named Nay who was turned into a slave by
colonizers and was bought by Efraín's father.
Juan Ángel: son of Feliciana, in charge of the farm tasks such as saddling horses and gathering fruits.
Julián, brother of Efraín, closely united to María, from whom he receives an almost maternal love.
Mrs. Andrea, mother of Julián.
Lucas, a young addition from a neighboring estate to José's, is part of the group that is going tiger hunting.
Tiburcio, another participant in the tiger hunt. Salomé's boyfriend.
Marta, cook of José's estate and his family.
Estefana, a twelve-year-old black girl, daughter of slaves who serves in the house. She has a fanatical affection for María.
Camilo, servant of Efraín's family sent to Cali by mail that they were expecting.
The Priest, an elderly cleric who officiates the wedding of Tránsito and Braulio.
Mr. A, gentleman with whom Efraín travels to Europe and who informs him of María's serious condition.

Other Characters:
Magmahu: Warrior father of Nay (Feliciana).
Say Tuto Kuamina: King Achanti at whose service was Magmahú.
Orsué: Leader of the achimis, killed by Magmahú.
Sinar: Son of the previous one and husband of Feliciana. After being captured by traffickers, he is separated forever from his wife, with
who has had a son, the little black Juan Ángel.
William Sarick: Irish owner of the house where Nay (Feliciana) was left by the traffickers as a slave.
Woman of the former. Nay finds comfort in her for the loss of her husband and good advice in despair.
The Yankee: an American who tries to buy Nay to take her to his country, where her son will be a slave forever.
Custodian: Efraín's buddy whom he asks to take his daughter Salomé to his house to keep her away from the temptation of Justiniano, brother of
Carlos, who seems to be lurking around her with not very honest intentions.

TIME.
Chronological time can be dated approximately. As in the novel, slavery still exists, abolished.
In Colombia at the beginning of 1852, it is inferred that the plot takes place before that year. Another important piece of information is the reference about
The school that Efraín attended operated from 1846 to 1852. So, the romance between Efraín and María would take place around the year 1850.
Show a timeline with a defined beginning, a chronological sequence of events, and an end.
Due to its condition as a memoir novel, in relation to its internal time, it can be said to present the form of the past tense.
imperfective reminiscence

SPACE.
Geographical Space. The events occurred in the Cauca Valley, between Palmira and Cerrito Valle on a farm called El Paraíso,
Bogotá, Cali, Jamaica, others. Throughout the novel, many other places are mentioned such as landscapes, rivers, and other estates of the
region. Furthermore, Europe (London) is also mentioned where Efraín was studying.
Open Space: Episodes outdoors in nature.
Closed Space: Related to the architectural features of the estate.

AUTHOR'S POINTS OF VIEW.

In this story, the author, without being the protagonist, assumes a narrator with a subjective point of view; because it presents to
Efraín, as the narrator of the story, at the same time participates in the events as an observer and witness in all cases is primary.
The character in the novel Maria is presented from the narrator's point of view.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ROMANTIC NOVEL PRESENT IN THE STORY.

Exaltation of the self. First-person narrative, without the author being the protagonist of the novel.
Presence of autobiographical elements: The author introduces many aspects of his life into the work.
The Idyl as a basic support of action, a means of a sentimental atmosphere: In María, the plot is simple. The characters are presented.
loves of two adolescents: Efraín and María
Title with the name of the protagonist.
Romantic themes and resources: In the story, the four fundamental themes of Romanticism are intertwined: love, the
nature, the pain of separation, death, and the religious aspect. Love is the sentimental foundation of the story that has as its backdrop
and in the foreground an idealized nature, but the theme of death will be present, as it will be the reason for that
it abruptly shattered the romance.
 Identification of Nature with the protagonist's mood. The natural environment where the idyll takes place,
it is appreciated based on emotions; for that reason, the landscape reflects the moods of the characters: if Efraín is
happy, the landscape is cheerful and if it is sad, the landscape is dark, opaque and funereal.
Presence of local color: It demonstrates the customs unique to the region. It recreates aspects related to the life of the region.
from Cauca (activities typical of farmers, dances, home traditions, eating together at the table, and having a place
fixed, pray before meals, among others)
Idealization of the Environment: The region of Cauca, where the author spent his childhood and youth, is the natural environment where
the idyll unfolds: Efraín identifies with the native landscape, with each tree, with each path, with each stream that crosses.
the novel also idealizes the human environment: it is a paradise of goodness in which owners, slaves, men, and women,
Whites and blacks live on Christian love. Human coexistence is perfect in every aspect.

Summary of the History.

This work tells the story of Efraín and María, two young cousins who fall in love; the young man has to go to the capital to
to study, and after six years he returns to his land, where he finds María, who makes him revive the love he felt for her. He travels
again, to continue with his studies in London leaving María, she is ill, when Efraín decides to return and upon arriving he
he learns that Maria is dead, which causes him great sadness.
María is a novel that, when read, envelops the reader in that romantic world full of obstacles and moments.
wonderful; that reach the heart awakening feelings of anguish, sadness, and joy. A perfect combination for
make this work an extraordinary story, that impacts and puts the reader in the place of the protagonists. Defend above all
love, humility, and simplicity. It is romantic and sad. It mixes idyl and reality. It unites the love and pain of the lovers Efraín and
Maria. In addition, the novel presents an accurate description of a beautiful Colombian region, the Cauca Valley, full of natural wealth;
where the author emphasizes emotion and variety of thought.
It is a story that mixes love, sadness, humor, and a lot of sentimentality, making it a very complete work. And we
It teaches that the most important thing is feelings and that they must be sincere, pure, and possible to express with small details.
In addition, it reveals the beauty of the places through the words of Efraín, the beauty of the Valle del Cauca land. In short, its
message is something we must apply every day of our lives; it teaches us that, despite distance, or illness, the
the most important are our feelings, and that we must fight for them no matter the obstacles.