Nada: Andrea’s Journey and the Aribau Street Household
The Narrative Arc of Carmen Laforet’s Nada
This synopsis details the key plot points and character developments in Carmen Laforet’s seminal novel, Nada.
I. Arrival in Barcelona
Andrea, a young student, finishes high school and travels to Barcelona to study at the university. She settles on the gloomy Aribau Street in the home of relatives who are too strange for her taste. Still, she stays and spends the night on an uncomfortable couch/bed.
II. Childhood Memories and Family Conflict
After a long night, Andrea wakes up and remembers her childhood in that house with her grandparents and the changes it has undergone since the Spanish Civil War. She speaks to her Aunt Angustias, who ‘advised’ her not to become close friends with her other aunt, Gloria. By mid-morning, Andrea witnesses a fight between Román, Gloria, and Juan that leaves her stunned and passive, checking the other inhabitants of the house.
III. Understanding the Characters
Andrea gradually learns more about the characters:
- Aunt Angustias: Forces Andrea to behave like a proper young lady, which Andrea hates.
- Juan and Gloria: Juan is an artist, and Gloria is a dreamy mother. Andrea finds them to be good people.
- Uncle Román: Andrea sometimes finds him too harsh, but recognizes he is also an artist. He lives in the attic, which he has managed to make comfortable. Andrea often goes there to escape the tension in the house, often smoking a cigarette with Román.
VII. Angustias’ Departure
Aunt Angustias left the house without telling anyone her destination. Later, people came asking for her (her boss had taken refuge in the house during the war), but the grandmother refused to give any response. Seeing that there was an empty room, Andrea moved into Angustias’ bedroom. The first night, Román’s presence scared her, and days later she went to talk to him. Román frightened her by saying that he had control over the actions of all the characters in the house.
VIII. The Scandalous Return
After the vacation, Angustias arrived at midnight and surprised Aunt Gloria on the street. A scandal in the Aribau Street house was not long in coming, as the discussion soon involved the Grandmother and Juan. It was a night of screams, moans, and cries. Andrea finally fell asleep. The next morning, the maid woke her up by order of Angustias. Angustias told Andrea of her upcoming entry into a religious community. She also expressed disappointment at Andrea’s behavior and recommended that when she left, Andrea should manage her pension well, be fair, and leave the room generously. Upon leaving, Andrea met with Gloria, who showed her the marks on her skin, the result of violence the previous night. It had been her husband, Juan, who hit her over and over when everyone slept.
IX. Angustias’ Farewell
All of Angustias’ friends visited days before she headed home for her leave. The expected comments were: “Lord, Lord, what has changed your home.” (P. 99) “What changes!” (P. 99) All went to the station to see her off, except Román. On the platform, Juan exploded, yelling recriminations for not having had the courage to initiate a relationship with Jerónimo Sanz.
X. February and New Acquaintances
The month of February arrived. Andrea, leaving an impromptu party at Ena’s house, decided to walk through Barcelona in the middle of the night, soon arriving at the Cathedral, which she admired astonished. It was there that she met a boy, Gerardo, whom she had met at the party. He accompanied her home and provided his telephone number. Upon entering her new room, she found that her family had filled it with old furniture. Angry, she preferred to remember the dinner held at Ena’s home with her family. At the dinner, the commentary arose about Ena’s family moving to Madrid, which pleased neither Andrea nor Ena.
XI. Financial Independence and Domestic Violence
Andrea decided to pay only for the food she ate every morning, thus allowing her to keep her money. One cold March night, shouting woke Andrea up. She left the room and found a scene of domestic violence between Juan and Gloria. Andrea took Gloria and invited her to spend the night with her, but this was impossible because Juan came into the room at midnight, and Gloria ended up disappearing.
XII. Ena’s Boyfriend and Román’s Secret
Andrea met Ena’s boyfriend, and the three went out together every weekend. Andrea spent several days without eating well, and nervous and hungry, she became angry with her friend. She remembered that she had to call Gerardo, and she did. The next day, he came for her. They went for a walk and kissed. She quickly repented and told the boy that it was a terrible mistake. Later, Ena spoke with Román in his room; he stood up, hugged her warmly, and left.
XIII. Isolation and New Friends
Ena asked Andrea not to pass by her house for some time. Accepting this, Andrea had to go study in the library. There she found Pons, whom she later found, invited her to meet his friends.