Niebla (Nivola)

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

49836

Title

Niebla (Nivola)

Language

es

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Miguel de Unamuno's 'Niebla' (Fog) is a metafictional novel where the protagonist, Augusto Pérez, attempts suicide after his lover, Eugenia, rejects him. Upon his death, the narrator, Víctor Gotti, discovers he is merely a fictional character within the story, challenging the boundaries between reality and fiction.

Summary up to 500 words

Miguel de Unamuno's *Niebla* (The Mist) is a metafictional novel that blurs the boundaries between reality and fiction, exploring existential dread, free will, and the nature of existence. The story is framed by a preface from Víctor Gotti, a fictional character who claims to be an unknown writer introducing the famous author, Miguel de Unamuno. Gotti explains that the book, a new genre he calls a 'nivola,' chronicles the tragic life of his friend, Augusto Pérez. Augusto is a man plagued by a profound lack of free will and existential despair. His life is defined by a series of entanglements with women, including his lover Eugenia, his friend's wife Liduvina, and his servant Rosario. Despite mutual affection, Eugenia initially rejects Augusto, citing deception and societal complications involving other men. Their relationship oscillates between reconciliation and conflict, complicated by the presence of Rosario, who offers Augusto unwavering loyalty, and Domingo, Augusto's friend and Liduvina's husband, who provides cynical commentary on marriage and infidelity. Ultimately, Augusto's despair leads him to commit suicide. Before his death, he visits Gotti to request that Gotti write his story. In a surreal twist, Gotti begins writing the book, only for Augusto to appear to him in a dream. In this dream, Augusto explains a crucial metaphysical truth: fictional characters cannot be truly resurrected; they exist only as long as they are written. Augusto warns Gotti that he, too, is a fictional character trapped within the narrative he created. If Gotti stops writing, Augusto will cease to exist. The novel concludes with an epilogue featuring Augusto's dog, Orfeo. Orfeo mourns his master's death, reflecting on the hypocrisy of humanity. He criticizes humans for inventing things that do not exist, confusing words with reality, and their inability to understand the simple truth of life and death. Through the voice of the dog, Unamuno delivers a scathing critique of human pretension, suggesting that humans are merely 'sick animals' who speak to lie and invent. The work stands as a profound meditation on the absurdity of human existence, blending humor, tragedy, and philosophical inquiry to challenge the reader's perception of reality itself.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Philosophy
• Fiction