Okay, let me just say this up front:
There isn’t a single universe where Andrea’s family would win that.
For context, “Nada” is a coming-of-age novel written by Carmen Laforet about an orphan who moves to Barcelona post-Spanish Civil War in order to attend university. She moves into her formerly-wealthy-but-now-poor grandmother’s apartment with several relatives: her grandmother (a very faithful Catholic), Aunt Angustias (a strict aunt), Uncle Román (a former musician), Uncle Juan (who isn’t a successful painter), Juan’s wife Gloria (a beautiful young gambler), and their child (who wasn’t named if I recall correctly). In addition to this, there’s also a housekeeper and a dog who live with them all.
With so many people living together in a run-down apartment when times are just hard after the Spanish Civil War – it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that conflicts and drama constantly break out between them. Juan abuses his wife. Angustias constantly lectures Andrea and closely follows her footsteps. It’s a very happy family, you know? And that’s why it’s understandable when Andrea only finds solace when she’s away from them (especially when she befriends Ena and others from her university).
Yet, I’ve always found it peculiar that the concept of blood family is very important to society – even if the members are horrible individuals. Now, the idea of “family” can be defined in multiple ways. But the general defnition would be something along the lines of parents, siblings, and any others who are related by blood. As far as I know, this doesn’t always mean trust, love, or loyalty in a relationship. Blood may make someone a relative, but it doesn’t mean that they care in a way that’s best for you (for example, Angustias may want to mould Andrea into her own definition of an ideal citizen, but her methods are very discouraging and invasive). A family is not always what you think.
So what exactly is a family supposed to mean? I like to think that they’re the people who take care of you when everything goes wrong. Those who don’t judge or turn away, despite any differences in opinion or clashes in personality. Those who are willing to support you no matter what and help you out.
In a sense, I believe Andrea’s friendship with Ena has been more familial than her blood relatives. Ena did take care of her, invite her into her family and spend lots of time with her. Her friendship also did help her get opportunities for jobs, further education, and ultimately leave her life behind for Madrid.
How important is “family” to you and why? Do you think it’s something you’re born into, or something you choose?
4 Comments
Hi! I didn’t read Nada but I found your blog super informative about the novel. I think these themes of family can be super interesting for an author and a book to delve into. I really love my family! Seeing different dynamics play out on the page can also be super entertaining to get a hint into the character’s personal and family life. Maia D.
Hi! I like your thoughts on how Ena became Andrea’s family in a sense. I agree! It’s a fact that sometimes people don’t get along. I like to think of families in a spectrum, from extremely close to extremely distant/almost and/or abandoned. Andrea’s crazy family was consisted of people who all had serious personal and relation issues. Chances of her not associated with such family or her past, is very common. Ena showed her life in a way that her family couldn’t.
On the questions you’ve given, I think family is important to everybody. No one wishes to have a ‘bad’ family or to be unhappy in one. It’s simply something people are born into (in whatever religious, spiritual, or philosophical thing you believe in). However, you can choose who you consider family. For example, I have some close friends that I consider them as sisters.
Hello!
To touch on your discussion question I definitely think family is something you choose. You can choose the family you were given or you can find those around you who may not be your family by blood, but ultimately become a found family. I think this is what Andrea chooses to do as her blood family is quite abrasive and toxic. She ultimately finds Ena who is the truest sense of family Andrea knows.
I loved hearing your thoughts on the novel!
– Samantha Rogers
Arella,
Thanks for your meditation on the different ways in which we can define family and how that reflects in the novel!