El Doctor Centeno (novela completa) by Benito Pérez Galdós

Description

El Doctor Centeno by Benito Pérez Galdós is a novel written in the late 19th century. The work introduces readers to the story of a young boy named Felipe Centeno, who embodies the hopes and struggles of the lower classes in Madrid. Through Felipe’s experiences, the novel explores themes of poverty, aspiration, and the quest for knowledge amid societal challenges. The opening of the novel sets the stage by vividly illustrating Felipe’s dire situation—he is portrayed as a frail, undernourished young man scavenging for food and attempting to maintain a sense of dignity despite his impoverished state. After fainting from exhaustion, he is discovered by two students, Alejandro Miquis and Juan Antonio de Cienfuegos, who engage in playful banter while attempting to understand his plight. This initial interaction highlights Felipe’s longing for acceptance and the stark contrasts between his world and that of the educated elite. As he becomes entangled with these new acquaintances, the foundations of his journey toward self-improvement and an education in medicine begin to unfold. (This is an automatically generated summary.)