El camino Introductory B

A left- or right-wing author?

Editorship of the newspaper El Norte de Castilla (1958-63)
Campaigned for compulsory secondary education and for
plight of poor Castilian farmers.

El camino retrograde or satirical?

Hctor Romero (on reading list): argues that Daniel is destined

for greatness but is too young to know it. (?)

Many dystopian elements in the novel. Especially, frustrated

older women: Sara and Guindilla sisters.

Irony of the narrative voice (or narrative focus or point of view).

The voice of the narrator is not that of Daniel.
e.g. on Paco, el herrero, in first chapter.

The education of the human heart as a major theme. Dawning

awareness in Daniel of adult sexuality and adult emotional
relationships.

Several other characters, besides Daniel, are seeking their

camino in the village.

A central irony:
Daniel is inching towards emotional maturity. On the other
hand, some adults find a new way forward in life by
becoming more childlike.
Delibes implies that an ability to choose between destinies is a
symptom of alienation.