Mr. Cayo's disputed vote
Mr. Cayo's disputed vote is a historical novel written by the Spanish journalist and author Miguel Delibes. The work was published for the first time in 1978 by Ediciones Destino. As usually happens with texts that present a marked dialectic in their argument, the book became popular in a very short time, attracting a large number of readers.
This notoriety became even more present thanks to a film of the same name directed by Antonio Giménez Rico and released in 1986. The film took old and new readers into a political battle between the city and rural areas of Spain.. Which of the two will win? The only way to know is to dive into Mr. Cayo's disputed vote.
Synopsis of Mr. Cayo's disputed vote
From the city to the countryside
Three militants from a vibrant political party in the city head to the uninhabited areas of Spain to campaign. When they arrive in the north of Castile, they find a space where there are almost no people and whose houses are almost in ruins. The only two residents of this town had an argument years ago, so they do not speak to each other, living in complete solitude.
There, The three belligerent young men meet Mr. Cayo, an affable and illiterate old man who, in contrast to them, does not seem to know or have much value. Even so, The militants want the man to promise them his vote for their party, and they try to convince him that life in the city is more prosperous than what he could have in the country. However, the old man doesn't quite agree.
An ideological dispute
Mr. Caius It is a repository of the rural lifestyle, so tries to reason with the three militants in this regard. Despite the education, intellectual level and culture that the young people have, at certain times they become arrogant, selfish and rude, while Gaius, in his supposed ignorance, shows a wisdom worthy of the best faculties of philosophy.
At all times, The old man defends his love for nature and the rural environments of his small forgotten town, and gives overwhelming reasons why, from his point of view, the city generates so much distrust. This dialogue is a reflection of one's own beliefs. Miguel Delibes placeholder image, who thought the same as his veteran character.
Humanism through the natural environment
In addition to the political, existential and humanist debate that hangs over the text, It is no coincidence that the action occurs in the middle of a rustic habitat, since this is a extension of the essence of its protagonist. Caius exhibits wisdom and full humanity, he is a good, gentle subject, and without any pretensions to greatness. The only thing he wants is to reside in peace inside his house.
It is logical to assume that it fell It has a simple life without the constant hustle and bustle of the city. He He seems too attached to his routines, while the three militants try to change their vision of the world., which they do not achieve very easily. The calm speech of the old man comes into direct opposition with the combative attitude of the young people, and that “power struggle” sustains the entire novel.
Two cultures that ignore each other
The trope of the contrast between the old man and the three militants is something that extends and deepens throughout the entire book. Miguel Delibes makes it clear that, although the boys try to seek Mr. Cayo's vote, they really don't understand the old man, their needs or their tastes, which means that their interest is superficial and materialistic, that they do not seek a common good, far from it.
As unfortunate as it may seem, this was not only a reality during the Spanish Transition, but has haunted the techniques of politicians since this title was created. Nevertheless, Gaius' responses to the young people show that he understands the situation well., and that he is not prepared to accept such manipulation. Although his culture disappears little by little, the old man defends it with all his might.
About the author, Miguel Delibes
Miguel Delibes.
Miguel Delibes Setién was born on October 17, 1920, in Valladolid, Castilla, Spain. He finished his high school degree at the Colegio de Lourdes in 1936. After the outbreak of the Civil War, he enrolled as a volunteer in the Navy of the Rebellious Army in 1938, serving on the cruiser Canarias. In 1938, after the battle ended, he returned home and enrolled in Commerce School.
Subsequently, He studied Law and studied at the School of Arts and Crafts of Valladolid, which helped him to be hired in The North of Castile, where he worked as a caricaturist and film reviewer. After getting married, in 1947, he began writing his first novel, at the same time that his first son, Miguel, was born. That same year he was awarded the Nadal Prize, and never stopped receiving recognition for his numerous works.
The author had his literary peak in 1960, with texts that catapulted him to fame thanks, above all, to books inspired by various autobiographical anecdotes, often linked to births, deaths or illnesses. Unfortunately, Delibes He died in March 2010 due to colon cancer that had plagued him since 1998.. Despite this, he will always be remembered as one of the great Spanish writers.
Other books by Miguel Delibes
Novels
- The shade of the cypress is elongated (1948);
- Even it is day (1949);
- The road (1950);
- My idolized son Sisi (1953);
- Hunter's Diary (1955);
- Diary of an emigrant (1958);
- The red leaf (1959);
- The rats (1962);
- Five hours with Mario (1966);
- Parable of the castaway (1969);
- The dethroned prince (1973);
- The wars of our ancestors (1975);
- The holy innocents (1981);
- Love letters from a voluptuous sexagenarian (1983);
- The treasure (1985);
- Hero wood (1987);
- Lady in red on gray background (1991);
- Diary of a retiree (1995);
- The heretic (1998)
stories
- "Crazy" (1953);
- "The match" (1954);
- “Siestas with a south wind” (1957);
- “Old stories from Old Castile” (1964);
- “The Shroud” (1970);
- “Three Counting Birds” (1982);
- “Three counting birds and three forgotten stories” (2003);
- “Old stories and complete tales” (2006);
- “The witch Leopoldina and other true stories” (2018)
Travel books
- A novelist discovers America (1956);
- Through those worlds: South America with a stopover in the Canary Islands (1961);
- Europe: stop and restaurant (1963);
- USA and me (1966);
- Prague spring (1968);
- Two car trips: Sweden and the Netherlands (1982)
hunting books
- Red partridge hunting (1963);
- The Small Game Book (1966);
- With the shotgun on his shoulder (1970);
- The hunt for Spain (1972);
- My friends the trout (1977);
- Adventures, adventures and misadventures of a wild hunter (1979);
- Sunday's partridges (1981);
- Two days of hunting (1988);
- The last preserve (1992)
Essays and articles
- Castilla in my work (1972);
- One year of my life (1972);
- Live for today (1975);
- SOS: the meaning of progress from my work (1976);
- Castilla, the Castilian and the Castilians (1979);
- The other football (1982);
- Press censorship in the 40s and other essays (1984);
- Castile speaks (1986);
- My dear bicycle (1988);
- My life outdoors (1989);
- Glue the thread (1990);
- Life on wheels (1992);
- A gentleman's sport (1993);
- Threatened nature (1996);
- I said (1996);
- Spain 1939-1950: Death and resurrection of the novel (2004)