'Hemos ido a redimir al redentor': The Old 'Paleto' As Mentor in Miguel Delibes' El disputado voto del Señor Cayo (1978). Issue 4 (21st April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Giménez-Rico, Isabel Durán
• Is Part Of: Bulletin of Spanish studies. Volume 99:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 579
• Page End: 598
• Publication Date: 2022-04-21
• Subjects: El disputado voto del Señor Cayo -- Miguel Delibes -- political fiction -- Spanish Transition literature; Spanish philology -- Periodicals; Portuguese philology -- Periodicals; Spanish literature -- Periodicals; Portuguese literature -- Periodicals; Spain -- Civilization -- Periodicals; Latin America -- Civilization -- Periodicals; Portugal -- Civilization -- Periodicals; 860.5
• DOI: 10.1080/14753820.2022.2096283
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1475-3820

Abstract

Abstract : El disputado voto del Señor Cayo (1978), a novel by Miguel Delibes, is constructed around a road trip, in which a candidate for a political party in the 1977 Spanish elections and two militants travel to a remote Castilian village in order to gain Mr Cayo's vote. In this article I provide a reading of the candidate's journey into 'deep Spain' as an example of the 'Hero's Journey' monomyth, and focus on the character of the old 'paleto', a naturally 'wise old man' whom the politicians try to 'redeem', only to find that they are the ones to be redeemed.