Pepita Jimenez It is a work that contains the psychological aspect, it is a love that is born between a young widow of 20 years, and a young man who is close to being ordained as a priest. It is an engaging novel to read.
Pepita Jimenez: Summary
The young Luis de Vargas, a seminarian, returns to his town where he was born to enjoy a short vacation, before receiving his vows, but, surprisingly, he finds that his father, Don Pedro, is about to marry a young girl named Pepita. Jiménez, who is only twenty years old, with a particular beauty and charisma. At her young age, she is the widow of an old man in her eighties.
The arrival of the young Luis in his native town, and the contact with the widowed girl, are usually a rebirth in the life of the aspiring seminarian, who since his adolescence has been immersed in religious books and theologians, while his thoughts are for the conversion of the soul of unbelievers.
During his stay, he accompanies the young Pepita Jiménez to walks in the countryside, participates in meetings at her house, and without noticing it, an obscene passion is gradually born, considered that way by him. However, he is stronger than his religious call, and his love for his father makes him feel like his own rival.
His thoughts lead him to get rid of his passion, he seeks to return to the seminary, but Pepita Jiménez, in love with him, pretends that she has fallen seriously ill, makes him come to her bed, and delicately declares her love for him.
Theme and plot
The theme of the novel Pepita Jiménez is based on the theme of love, love that arises between two young people, Pepita being the widow of an elderly millionaire; while the moral values of the young Luis is to become a priest; but, he is hindered by the love of the young woman, which with the passing of days begins to emerge. If you are interested in this type of novels, it is recommended The Shoemaker's Prodigious Wife
The plot of the novel begins with a young seminarian, Luis de Vargas, he is 22 years old, the only son of the hacienda owner Don Pedro. Luis, has been a child who has been educated in the city, under the care of his exemplary uncle, director of the cathedral.
Luis, feels a great vocation to the service of the priesthood, and motivated by faith to carry out his religious mission to the Far East, he imagines preaching the Gospel to many people and converting the infidels, he is anxious for the great day to arrive to receive his votes .
His father invites him to enjoy a short vacation in his hometown, before receiving his religious vows, up to his town, where he meets Pepita Jiménez, a beautiful young woman and a 20-year-old widow, she has a spectacular beauty and a merciful character, whom Don Pedro, a 55-year-old man, conquers.
Pepita Jiménez, had married at the age of 16 with her uncle, an octogenarian man. She is a widow, before turning 19 years old, she had had an honorable life dedicated to her house, her husband and doing charity work.
The contact between the next priest and the young Pepita enthuses and fills with color the gloomy life of the young man, who was mixed up between theology books and monks. But he is wracked with guilt.
Meanwhile, the young man goes for a walk in the countryside with Pepita, and a strong passion arises between them, which he considers to be a sin. As the days go by, his love for the young woman grows, diminishing his religious vocation and losing respect for his father, whom he sees as a rival.
To get away from sin, Luis decides that the best thing is to get away, but Pepita realizes that she loves him and gets to know about his withdrawal, so it seems that she is sick, she enters into deep sadness. Luis, to comfort her and invite her to leave her anguish, decides to visit her, as "a farewell visit".
The two young men talk at length, she declares her love for him, asking him to do the same, this time, the passion is stronger than his religious vocation. Pepita Jiménez gives herself to him unceremoniously, so the young man lets himself be shaken by passion, a new feeling for him.
He decides to confront his father Don Pedro, to confess the decision he has made to leave his religious mission behind, and surrender to Pepita's love.
His father, Don Pedro, acts in an unexpected way for Luis, he would never have thought what his father told him, who was aware of all the events, through a letter sent from his brother the director, and also adds, that his sincere wishes is that the love between them will progress and be forever.
He exclaims: "I already dream of seeing you married." Indeed, one month after the conversation between Don Pedro and Luis, the marriage of Luis de Vargas with Pepita Jiménez is celebrated, a fact seen with great consent on the part of all.
At the cinema
It is a work that not only appears in the Pepita Jimenez books, is also taken by film producers to show it in movie theaters:
Year 1927
Agustín García Carrasco produced the first film version, with the title Pepita Jiménez.
Year 1946
Emilio Fernández, Mexican director, directs a film with his name
Year 1975
Rafael Moreno Alba, Spanish director, carries out the production of a film tape.
Year 1978
Manuel Aguado, film director, directs an adaptation by chapters to take it to TVE.