One of the problems I have with a large novel like Fortunata and Jacinta is finding passages after reading them so I thought I would provide sub-chapter headings to help me (and anyone else) reading the novel. My comments for the sub-chapters may not be straightforward, but they should mean something to anyone reading the novel. Page numbers are for my edition, which I realize will not coincide with everyone else’s version. This post will be updated and bumped to the top occasionally until I have all four volumes outlined.
The Wikipedia page for Fortunata and Jacinta has a list of some of the major character names.
Volume One
I.
Juanito
Santa Cruz (3)
1)
Juanito’s student days and changing study
habits; his mother’s worship; living vs. reading
2)
A mother’s vigilance and prayers; his father’s
philosophy; Juanito’s trip to Paris
II.
Santa
Cruz and Arnáiz (10)
A Historical View of Madrid’s
Business World
1)
Business experience of Don Baldomero Santa Cruz I & II; Tubs Arnáiz’s
store
2)
Barbarita Arnáiz in her father’s store; her
friends at school
3)
Barbarita’s father dies; an arranged marriage
4)
A happy marriage; Juanito born; changes in
child-rearing systems
5)
Changes in Spain and in commerce; Isabel Cordero
saves a store
6)
Isabel’s fertility, management, and marketing
skills
III.
Estupiñá (33)
1)
The tertulia
in the Arnáiz
shop; Estupiñá
sees Spain’s history; his gift of gab
2)
Estupiñá’s sidelines; Barbarita’s trust in him
3)
Estupiñá at 70; his first real illness
4)
Juanito visits Estupiñá, meets Fortunata
IV.
The
Perdition and Salvation of the Dauphin(46)
1)
The corruption of the Dauphin; Estupiñá as spy;
escape to Plencia; marriage machinations
2)
The engagement; Isabel’s death
V.
The
Honeymoon (53)
1)
Wedding; the honeymoon begins; Jacinta’s
curiosity
2)
Juan’s partial confession
3)
The confession continues; more views of the
common people; unsaid—was there a child?
4)
What’s in a name? Jacinta’s tenacity
5)
The imbiber of Seville; the blabber of Seville
6)
More confessions
7)
Rationalizations vs. the Decalogue; feelings of
victory; truth in a frock coat
VI.
Still
More Details about the Distinguished Family (80)
1)
Happiness and emptiness; “that merry scrambling
of social classes”
2)
Family trees, branches, and vines
3)
The Santa Cruz house and household; Jacinta’s
envy
4)
Jacinta’s desire for children—the unbridgeable
distance and the “vastness of her pity”
5)
Barbarita’s vice; Estupiñá’s help
VII.
Guillermina,
Virgin and Founder (96)
1)
Guillermina’s “vivid flame”; establishment of
the orphanage
2)
Building a new, ad hoc
orphanage
3)
Possible fallout from Amadeo’s abdication; the
rivalry between Casa-Muñoz and Aparisi
VIII.
Scenes
from a Private Life (108)
1)
Juan’s tarnished halo; playing games; “his self-love always came
first”
2)
No debts for Juan; “the spirit of inconsistency;
Jacinta dreams—a baby at her breast
3)
Juan’s cold; abiding (briefly) by the law; Sr.
Ido
4)
Sr. Ido’s electricity and delusions; his
electric declaration
5)
The sick cad; Jacinta plots with Guillermina
IX.
A
Visit to the Slums (132)
1)
Jacomta goes slumming with Guillermina; Toledo
Street; tenement life
2)
Tenement life, cont.; savages; Ido’s mansion;
the Venus de Medici and family
3)
Pitusín; an errand for Sr. Ido; the torment
of the duro
4)
Ido’s inner howling for meat; Izquierdo invites
himself to lunch
5)
Izquierdo’s serious history (instead of a novel)
6)
Ido drunk on meat; what’s in store for
Izquierdo; making mincemeat
7)
Jacinta and Pitusín at Izquierdo’s mansion
8)
“The vastness of the kingdom of poverty”
9)
Izquierdo meets his match in Guillermina; she
provides the spark for his path to glory
X.
More
Scenes from Private Life (174)
1)
The Santa Cruz’s win the lottery; Guillermina
assures Jacinta she will get Pituso
2)
Juan’s sickness continues; Jacinta confesses she
will have a baby
3)
Barbarita’s lack of enthusiasm with Jacinta’s
plan; Izquierdo gives up Pituso
4)
Pituso takes a bath; Barbarita’s Christmas Eve
5)
Christmas Eve with the Santa Cruz family; Juanín’s
desolation; Juanín and Jacinta
6)
Barbarita meets Juanín; more reports of his
desolation; the truth about Juanín
7)
Life isn’t a novel; the novel continues;
Fortunata’s rough life; Juan meets Juanín
8)
The rice pudding incident; Don Baldomero insists
on the orphanage for Juanín
XI.
The
End, Which Turns Out to Be the Beginning (213)
1)
The Pitusian novel ends; “someone in the
picture”; the end of the First Republic begins; Fortunata’s fortunes have
evidently changed
2)
Villalonga continues; dueling historical events;
an enemy to be discovered?
3)
Juan’s torturous
obsession; the hunter misses his game, while pneumonia strikes
Volume Two
I.
Maximiliano
Rubín (227)
1)
The Rubín family; Juan Pablo’s unlucky star
2)
Maximiliano and nature’s stinginess; Rubinius vulagris; vice-proof
3)
Olmedo, the debauchee wannabe; Maximiliano meets
Fortunata; smitten
4)
Maximiliano breaks open for Fortunata…will his
piggy bank follow suit? Papitos, the maid
5)
Maximiliano in love, a man of talent; a pig’s
slaughter
II.
The
Strivings and Mishaps of a Redeemer (249)
1)
Sensible thinking mixed with exalted passion;
enduring love for Juanito; jealousy
2)
Maxi asks for, finds out the ugly pages of
Fortunata’s life
3)
Redemption plans; love me yet?; what will happen
when money runs out?
4)
Reading and writing; the beautiful savage awakens
Maxi’s sleeping soul; married and decent?
5)
The inheritance (to come)
6)
Maxi unburdens himself to a sleeping Papitos
7)
Fortunata’s reticence; Olmedo’s dishonor—caught
studying
8)
Fortunata’s weathervane soul; dishonor and
poverty
9)
Doña Lupe finds out Maxi’s wedding plans;
Sunday confrontation
III.
A
Portrait of Doña
Lupe (280)
1)
The scolding begins; interrupted by Sr.
Torquemada bearing news
2)
Torquemada’s treatment of borrowers; Doña
Lupe’s treatment of Maxi (compare and contrast)
3)
Doña Lupe’s history; Maxi returns,
resolute
4)
Maxi’s display of willpower inspires Doña
Lupe’s respect; her tactful conclusion
5)
Doña Lupe—half flesh, half cotton; life
as a userer; Torquemada’s able student
IV.
Nicolás and Juan Pablo Rubín Propose New Methods of Redemption
(298)
1)
Juan Pablo visits, no interest in brother’s
folly; the inheritance; politics
2)
Respect and esteem for Maxi; Nicolás
arrives; the inheritance settled; how Nicolás and Doña
Lupe reconcile
3)
Nicolás’ holy burps; the muted duel; Nicolás
visits Fortunata
4)
Nicolás visits Fortunata again; confessions
5)
Nicolás works on the edification of
Fortunata; the planned purification
6)
Maxi and Fortunata plan for the Micaelas; Doña
Lupe’s dilemma about visiting Fortunata
7)
Political row between Juan Pablo and Nicolás;
Doña
Lupe’s visit with Fortunata
8)
Doña Lupe’s public stance; a Good Friday
walk
V.
The
Micaelas, from Without (330)
1)
A brief description of the convent; Fortunata
disappears inside
2)
Maxi’s fear; Nicolás invites a priest home for
lunch; Doña
Lupe’s anger; Papitos’ canceled revenge
3)
Maxi’s daily “visits”; Thursday visits with
Fortunata
VI.
The
Micaelas, from Within (339)
1)
The routine of the Filomenas; an old
acquaintance
2)
Mauricia’s news; Mauricia’s disturbances
3)
Mauricia’s punishments; Fortunata finds out
about Jacinta’s “maternal dilemma”
4)
Views from and diversions in the convent; Doña
Manolita; Jacinta’s and Barbarita’s gifts
5)
Fortunata sees Jacinta, wishes to be her; her
esteem for Maxi grows; when to leave?
6)
Belén and Felisa; Mauricia’s views on
Maxi, Juan, and “what was yours”
7)
Fortunata’s reluctance toward freedom (and
marriage to Maxi); resignation; the
“white idea” speaks
8)
Marcela and the mouse; Mauricia’s despair
9)
Mauricia’s vision; her singular dialogue;
absurdity
10)
The source of the vision; Guillermina wades into
the fray; Mauricia cast out
VII.
The
Wedding and the Honeymoon (379)
1)
Release; redemption (of Fortunata’s clothes);
final confession; Doña Lupe’s soft wax; shyness
2)
Maruicia appears; the trap set for Fortunata
3)
Fortunata, drowned in sadness; married and
decent
4)
Wedding night; sensing danger close by; “you’ll
never escape from me”; he is there
5)
Maxi improves; Juan Pablo’s arrest; freedom for
Fortunata; “Am I really married?”
6)
“Over here, baby”; “You can do what you like as
long as you’re discreet”; “You’re my
husband”
7)
Meetings and plans; a history of revenge;
Fortunata’s idea—an exchange of children
8)
Coldness and melancholy; meeting the scoundrel;
jealousy requires good lungs; “Tell me
the truth”
9)
The requirement for lies; Maxi languishes; a
revolver; message from a friend
10)
Torture: to know or not to know?; hatred
personified; scuffle; first aid
11)
Doña Lupe takes charge; Fortunata
returns, packs; the ghost of her wickedness
12)
In the confessional box with Nicolás;
the priest’s wounded pride; “I’ve always loved him”; gone
Volume Three
I.
The
Café (433)
1)
Juan Pablo Rubín—assassin of time; café emigrations
for the political tertulia
2)
Feijóo’s lack of political faith; Don
Basilio’s “field”; public employees and sympathy
3)
Stupid and sublime things in a café; 1874—war,
outlook for Alfonso’s return
4)
Juan Pablo—Carlos over Alfonso; self-education
for argument’s sake; beaten by a priest, emigration
5)
New café, new circles; Ramsess II; a creditor
appears, another emigration
6)
Feliciana and Olmedo; Feijóo
has seen Fortunata; self-education toward anarchy; futile efforts of
conversion; a job offer
II.
The
Victorious Restoration (457)
1)
Alfonso returns; restoration without
reformation; Jacinta knows about the kept woman
2)
Boredom with sin; the tell-tale signs of the
affair; being lent her husband
3)
Self-pride despite inferiority; the unfortunate
woman and his debts; “imagine you’re me”; anything for his angel
4)
A visit from Adoración; Moreno-Isla returns to
Spain; Spain to an outsider; a personal farewell vs. a visit
III.
The
Revolution Fails (475)
1)
Switching regimes; “I pay for both of us”;
Juan’s well-timed exit
2)
A long walk; She’s stealing my husband; fear
replaces anger; escorted home by Feijóo
IV.
A
Course in Practical Philosophy (484)
1)
Feijóo and practicality; “I was born
pueblo and I’ll stay pueblo”; Feijóo
holds back
2)
Feijóo can’t wait; Fortunata wants to be
decent without going back to her husband; the colonel’s proposal
3)
What had to happen happened; resignation; the
rules; contentment; a peculiar man
4)
Fortunata physically flourishing; Moor’s Gate;
idol and protégé together
5)
Feijóos’ speedy physical decline; “What’s
going to become of you when I die, chulita?”
6)
Feijóos’ practical suggestion; the servant’s
curiosity; Feijóos’ catechism
7)
Feijóos proceeds with his plan; change in
government means change in clothes; family news from Juan Pablo
8)
Feijóos wins Doña Lupe to play; Refugio;
philosophy in the café; Maxi and Feijóos leave café
9)
Evangelical versus social forgiveness; father/daughter;
possibilities; principles vs. appearances
10)
Choose…ahem…carefully; a slave to manners and
appearances; settling accounts, helping others
V.
Another
Restoration (529)
1)
Doña Lupe’s habit; refinement =
aristocracy; situation of Rubín brothers
2)
Instructions; Maxi’s inability to visit; Fortunata
in the living room; restoration
3)
Mauricia in the street; stories about
Maruricia—with the Protestants, lassoed by Guillermina
4)
Fondness toward Maxi develops; Feijóo’s
visits; off to visit a dying Mauricia
VI.
Spiritual
Naturalism (545)
1)
Visiting Mauricia at Severiana’s place;
Guillermina visits; Mauricia tells Fortunata about Jacinta’s visit
2)
Preparations for Communion—Guillermina takes
charge; Sr. Ido; “Repent for everything, kid”
3)
Processions and Communion; Jacinta brings
Adoración
to see Mauricia, meets Fortunata; tears
4)
Mauricia’s attacks; ramblings with Fortunata; Doña
Lupe stays the night to impress Guillermina
5)
Fortunata assists; Jacinta stops by again;
Fortunata and Jacinta talk; attack, escape
6)
Fortunata returns home; deliriums; rivalry,
hatred, wish for freedom
7)
Pity; canonship; visitors, including Doña
Casta Morena; struggling for words with Feijóo
8)
Maxi’s disorder and irritation; adoption?
9)
Maruricia’s death; visiting the wake;
Guillermina leads Fortunata to a conversation
10)
Guillermina’s questions, Fortunata’s confession;
Guillermina’s promise of confession; the ideal image
11)
Guillermina walks Fortunata home; they plan
another meeting
VII.
That
Idea, That Crafty Idea (595)
1)
Guillermina and her nephew Moreno-Isla; Jacinta
helps Guillermina wheedle money out of him; the hand chapter
2)
Fortunata visits Guillermina, Jacinta listens;
“my real husband”; “I can give him another”
3)
Guillermina’s lie; “He said: ‘What’s become of
you, baby?’”; the idea again; the truth; “Thief!”
4)
Exeunt Fortunata; aversion gaining control;
wandering the streets in a dream, or in a dream wandering the streets?
5)
A little freedom; “Baby!”; into the cab; fate
Volume Four
I.
On
Ave Marie Street (619)
1)
Maxi’s mistakes; his reading; waiting for
Fortunata; powers of observation waning; spiritual drowsiness
2)
Maxi’s mania; paranoia, and just a bit sad
3)
The worst of the attack; Ballester’s wish; calm;
pharmacology and music
4)
Olimpia and the martyrdom of a keyboard; Aurora’s
history; the linen shop; Aurora’s message to Fortunata
5)
Treatise on Madrid water; the Santa Cruz family
vacation news; Ballester flirts with Fortunata
6)
Doña Lupe senses Fortunata’s third
amorous foray; desiring complete absolution or condemnation; confiding, Doña
Lupe’s radiance; is money involved?
7)
Heat and repetition; Maxi’s formula…or doctrine;
revelation; completely gone
8)
Maxi trapped in the “recondite seething of his
own thoughts”; improvement; Fortunata’s sorrow; news—return, speculation
9)
A tramp and a dunce; a kinder, gentler Maxi; the
unperformed practical joke
10)
Fortunata ill; Maxi’s talk of suicide, how to
free the soul?
11)
Ballester and Fortunata; his advice for her
(among flirting); the go-between; a wedding party
12)
Aurora tells Fortunata on Moreno-Isla’s past and
present; no virtue exists?
II.
Insomnia
(664)
1)
Moreno-Isla’s woes; a nasty-symptom—love; the
Rx; “could I have children?”
2)
Barbarita’s plan; pallor, weariness,
distractedness; ecstasy; a crumbling heart
3)
Bewitched; hallucinating; plans to leave;
emotional and physical scars
4)
Guillermina and Moreno-Isla; dejection;
strolling during Mass; patients for an asylum
5)
Moreno-Isla’s plans to leave; buying gifts;
meets Jacinta; “the most unfortunate man in the world”
6)
Guillermina and her nephew; plans on leaving,
continued; dreams of/with Jacinta; the dry leaf falls
III.
Dissolution
(689)
1)
Ballester knows about Fortunata’s meetings; Juan
breaks up with Fortuanta after she insults Jacinta; virtue?
2)
The aftermath of Moreno-Isla’s death;
Fortunata’s suspicions and Aurora’s help
3)
Fortunata and Doña Lupe fight; “My soul’s
falling apart”; “You’ve come too late”; Maxi’s improvement (?)
4)
The gospel of disinterestedness and annulment;
“You’re pregnant”; the child of Pure Thought
5)
Knives; the pain of restitution; better to
leave; interest in the principal
6)
Escape; a visit to an old friend; confession of
a deed; flash and eclipse in the ruins; loss
7)
Back to the Cava; dirt and grime
8)
The missing wife; “make believe she’s dead”; brooding;
Juan Pablo’s needs, his servility; Maxi’s
jealousy, improvement (?)
IV.
New
Life (717)
1)
Estupiñá the rent-collector; repairs needed;
a lonely life; should forgiveness be asked? It depends; I’ve got more than
Latin
2)
Blizzard; a Maxi sighting; alone in a cage; Ballester
visits; interest in and for Fortunata; the model José Izquierdo
V.
The
Logic of Illogical Thinking (725)
1)
Maxi—the exercise of logic; at the Gallo café;
Izauierdo and the bundle with Fortunata’s boots
2)
With logic alone; clues amid deceptive performances;
Ido’s attack
3)
“Logic demands her death”; “extra sanity to
give”; Maxi’s proofs to Doña Lupe; Juan Pablo’s poor timing
4)
Juan Pablo rails against society (really Doña
Lupe); Maxi sees Aurora and Juan; Maxi’s dream of justice; “the bad bird
hatched an egg”
5)
Doña Lupe muses on situation; talks over
news with her nephew; Juan Pablo’s despair
6)
Governorship; acclaim and congratulations; going
to province without Refugio
VI.
The
End (748)
1)
Ballester visits Fortunata and baby; news all
around; Ballester now friends with the critic
2)
Fortunata’s tertulia; her
trust in Ballester; “Laws are a lot of stupid nonsense”; Estupiñá’s visit
3)
Baptism; Maxi visits Fortunata, speech; “an
impossible marriage”; “a consummated divorce”; a view of the baby
4)
The knife—Maxi tells Fortunata of Juan’s affair
with Aurora; “What did you want—to wound and not be wounded?”
5)
Guillermina’s visit; Fortunata’s dream
6)
Ballester; another guardian for Juan Evaristo; Visitación
confirms the affair; Fortunata brings Aurora something; a room in hell
7)
The multi-level tertulia on
the steps: Guillermina, Ballester, Maxi, Izquierdo, Segunda; Fortunata returns
8)
Fortunata tells of settling the score; Maxi and
Guillermina; “Unfaithfulness punishes unfaithfulness”; natural courses and
justice
9)
Maxi’s lesson for Fortunata; her deal with Maxi:
“Do you want me to love you with all my heart and soul?”
10)
Ballester’s devotion; drying up; shopping for
wet nurses; Guillermina with Estupiñá; Jacinta calls; masses; Jacinta’s respect;
Barbarita
11)
Fortunata confesses to Guillermina; they discuss
Jacinta; Guillermina’s decrees
12)
Maxi’s gun; Fortunata’s dream of friendship;
Ballester’s concerns; Segunda repeats Doña Lupe’s gossip; “I haven’t been
unfaithful”
13)
The bottle is necessary; “you’re going to be
queen of the world”; the wound deep within; Fortunata’s will
14)
What revives Fortunata; Guillermina’s efforts; “I’m
an angel”; Father Nones arrives; death
15)
Balester’s babbling; funeral arrangements; Maxi
locked up; plans for “the precious acquisition”; Juan’s confession; a nobody to
his wife
16)
The funeral, and the makings of a play or novel;
Ballester’s grief; Maxi visits her grave; Feijóo’s funeral; nature as
corrective; “She was an angel”; to the “monastery”
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