Rosa Chacel

Why have confessions been scarce in our literature? In this essay, Rosa Chacel delves into the confessions of Saint Augustine, Rousseau, and Kierkegaard, considering them among the greatest in history and for their decisive influence on the Spanish authors she subsequently studies: Galdós and Unamuno. Cervantes also holds a prominent place, as the only one, in her view, who gave Spanish literature a true, authentic, and pure confession. "What a man has to confess is not what he did or failed to do," states the author from Valladolid, "but what he carries between his chest and back throughout his life." Eros is the mystery that becomes a conflict in these three exceptional minds, who found themselves in the labyrinth when their conscience tried to confront it. "We are not capable of tempting with good. We feel guilty and want to fix something quickly, but what is deeply torn by the years cannot be sewn up in a moment. Therefore, the only thing left for us is to ask for confession." An essay of undeniable relevance, born from the conflict with faith or love and transformed into literature.