Full Moon Novel: Settings, Chronology, and Key Themes
Full Moon Novel: Settings and Narrative Chronology
Temporal Dimensions
The novel’s external time is set at an unspecified date between 1991 and 1995, close to its 1997 publication. References to historical events, such as the Franco era and ETA terrorist activity, along with a specific mention of the war in Bosnia, help contextualize this period.
Regarding internal time, the author provides information that continuously propels the action forward. The crime occurs in winter. Specific dates are also given for the second assassination attempt: the period between the attack on the first girl and the second runs from early October until mid-December. Subsequent events unfold over a slightly longer duration. By the novel’s end, seven months have passed since Fatima’s death, which is situated in May. Thus, the novel follows a linear, chronological order, spanning from mid-fall to late spring. This chronological sequence is occasionally interrupted by flashbacks that shape the identities of two other characters.
Two additional aspects of time are worth noting:
- The day in the novel is linked to light and clarity, while night signifies darkness, fear, secrecy, and criminality.
- Time is also related to the phases of the moon.
Spatial Setting
The story unfolds in an unnamed Castilian city. However, critics recognize this “gray city” as Mágina, Antonio Muñoz Molina’s imaginary city, a literary transcription of his birthplace, Úbeda. This recognition is partly due to the mention of Ordóñez Square. The novel vividly portrays the city’s inherent violence and the insecurity of its streets.
Key Themes in Full Moon
Violence and Social Insecurity
Full Moon addresses highly topical issues, including sexual abuse, terrorism, and the lack of solidarity in modern cities. Violence manifests in several ways:
Sexual Abuse and Murder: The abuse, murder, and kidnapping of Fatima, along with the attempted murder of the second child, intensely exemplify the social violence latent in contemporary society. The author heightens this intensity through a crude depiction of aggression, foul language, and the contempt the murderer displays towards his victims.
ETA Terrorism: Terrorism, specifically from ETA, is another source of violence. It is exercised both directly, through bombs and guns, and indirectly, through threats and calls. A notable example is the inspector’s wife, a victim of this indirect violence, unable to endure the nervous tension of living with her husband in the Basque Country.
Another related theme is the possibility that evil leaves visible traces on the face of those who experience it, prompting the inspector to scrutinize people in search of the killer.
Lack of Solidarity and Urban Alienation
A recurring theme is the lack of solidarity, a characteristic of modern, urban societies. In cities, large human groups often void individual personality, obscuring the unique traits of each person. This is compounded by a prevalent disinterest in the lives of others. Consequently, hardly anyone notices the murderer and the terrified girl he leads, allowing them to walk unnoticed among pedestrians.
Love, Faith, and Loneliness
As a counterpoint to hatred and evil, love stands as another major theme:
Conjugal Love: The inspector’s conjugal love for his wife is one of custom and hurt, a relationship that now seems to lack passion.
New Connection: In contrast, the inspector’s connection with the teacher Susana emerges. Unlike women confined to psychiatric institutions, Susana is a cultured woman who, at age 40, seeks to rebuild her love life. Through the inspector’s eyes, the novel explores themes such as religion and his crisis of faith, as well as the permanent psychosis that accompanies him. With Susana, he explores loneliness and frustration. However, like many women in contemporary Spain, she knows how to combat that loneliness through her work and fortitude, defending her freedom and, above all, her independence.