Essay Questions

Nada is an exploration of post-war life, including its effects. Support this statement with illustrations from Carmen Laforet’s novel of the same name.

Written in a post-war era, in particular, after the Spanish war and centered in Barcelona, Laforet explores the theme of war and its devastating effects that are apparent throughout the novel. After the war, Andrea’s family loses their previously affluent social status, and she is now living at the mercy of government handouts. She and her family are presented as struggling to cope as brought out in the impoverished life that Andrea’s grandmother and relatives live in. She is also struggling with university life until later, when Eva’s parents help her out. Andrea’s family is contrasted with Eva’s, which is particularly affluent. The novel revolves around Andrea’s life after the war, and, as such, the assumption that it is an exploration of post-war life and its effects is befitting.

The character Roman in Nada is an epitome of dishonesty. Is this assumption plausible?

The dishonest aspect of Roman is brought to light when Andrea discovers that he had an intimate relationship with a married woman, Eva’s mother. Additionally, despite being a musician, Roman is unable to facilitate his life and finds himself entangled in a web of illegal activities. When Roman’s dishonest life is brought to the attention of the authorities, he commits suicide rather than face the consequences of his dishonesty and engagement in illegal activities. Roman’s life can be argued to have played a significant role in Andrea’s decision to live her family behind and pursue an improved life. Based on the life that Roman engages himself in, dishonesty seems like a plausible assumption of his life.