Carlota Angela

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26025

Title

Carlota Angela

Language

pt

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Camilo Castelo Branco's *Carlota Angela* is a poignant Portuguese romance exploring the destructive power of parental interference and the redemptive force of religious devotion. The narrative follows a spirited young woman whose life is upended by her father's rigid control, leading her to the convent. Through the tragic parallel of her lover's journey from despair to monastic life, the novel offers a melancholic yet spiritually resonant critique of societal constraints and a celebration of enduring, selfless love.

Summary up to 500 words

Set in early 19th-century Porto, Camilo Castelo Branco's *Carlota Angela* explores the tragic collision between rigid social duty and enduring human passion. The story centers on Carlota Angela, a spirited seventeen-year-old whose natural vivacity is extinguished by her wealthy but stern parents, Norberto and Rosalia. Disappointed by a lack of a suitable suitor and fearing her father's harsh judgment, Carlota undergoes a sudden transformation, becoming taciturn and seeking refuge in a convent. Her father, a man of rustic simplicity and stubborn pride, initially resists her vocation but eventually relents, hoping the religious life will cure her of her perceived 'madness.' The narrative unfolds through the dual perspectives of Carlota and her former lover, Francisco Salter. After a brief, passionate courtship, Francisco is imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, a tragedy likely orchestrated by Norberto's machinations. Imprisonment breaks Francisco's spirit, leading to despair, suicidal thoughts, and a profound crisis of faith. However, the memory of Carlota keeps him alive. Upon his release, he flees to a monastery, where he undergoes a painful spiritual rebirth, eventually becoming a monk known as Frei Francisco da Soledade. Years later, Carlota is dying of consumption. Her faith is tested as she fears her father has abandoned her. The narrative builds to a heartbreaking climax when the aging, impoverished Norberto finally visits his daughter in the convent. In a moment of profound reconciliation, Carlota dies in the arms of her father and her former lover, who has returned as a monk. The novel concludes with a reflection on the purification of the soul and the enduring nature of true love, which transcends death and social judgment. Castelo Branco's prose is characterized by intense emotion, vivid descriptions of Portuguese landscapes, and a deep exploration of the conflict between human passion and religious duty.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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data/epubs/pg26025.epub

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Categories

• Classics
• Fiction