51
Galdós, p. 58.
52
For Pereda's opinions, see Cartas a Galdós, pp. 47-58, 64. Menéndez Pelayo discussed Gloria in Historia de los heterodoxos españoles, VI (Santander: Aldus, 1948), 480-81. For Blanco García, see: Francisco Blanco García, La literatura española en el siglo XIX (Madrid: Sáenz de Jubera, 1910), II, 498-99.
53
See E. J. Rodgers, «Religious Conflict and Didacticism in Gloria», Anales Galdosianos, I (1966), 39-51; José F. Montesinos, Galdós, I (Madrid: Castalia, 1968), 193-233; W. H. Shoemaker, «A Note on Galdós's Religion in Gloria», Anales Galdosianos, XI (1976), 109; Walter T. Pattison, Benito Pérez Galdós (Boston: Twayne, 1975), p. 56.
54
For Rodgers, Esther's «ruthlessness and duplicity» (her denunciation of her son) are inconsistent with her previous «graciousness and affability» (her treatment of the Ficobrigans) and tenderness toward Morton (p. 49). Her affability and apparent affection are, however, manifestly manipulative; Esther Spinoza merely changes weapons, from bribery to treachery. The apparent contradictions in Galdós' portrayal of Morton will be discussed later in this article.
55
For Galdós' deep distress at Pereda's charges, see «Veintiocho cartas», pp. 17, 19, 25.
56
Letter of February 11, 1877 («Veintiocho cartas», p. 15).
57
Letter of March 10, 1877 («Veintiocho cartas», p. 18).
58
Ibid.
59
Letter of March 27, 1877 («Veintiocho cartas», p. 22).
60
An honorable exception in the critical wasteland is Sherman H. Eoff, who suggests that Gloria is a complex personality responding to circumstances; see Sherman H. Eoff, The Novels of Pérez Galdós (St. Louis: Washington University, 1954), pp. 45-46. Unfortunately, Eoff's treatment of Gloria is brief and in passing.