Contigo Pan y Cebolla by Manuel Eduardo de Gorostiza

(26 User reviews)   6619
By Nicholas Ortiz Posted on Dec 25, 2025
In Category - Legal Drama
Gorostiza, Manuel Eduardo de, 1789-1851 Gorostiza, Manuel Eduardo de, 1789-1851
Spanish
Imagine a young man so broke he can't even afford to tell his rich fiancée the truth. That's the hilarious pickle Don Lucas finds himself in. To keep up appearances and marry the wealthy Doña Inés, he pretends to be a man of means while secretly surviving on... well, bread and onions. This 19th-century Mexican comedy is a fast, witty ride about love, lies, and the ridiculous lengths we go to for social status. It's surprisingly fresh and funny, proving some struggles—like trying to look cool when you're broke—are truly timeless.
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the sake of the student one or two passages have been omitted. Much work has been left to be done by those who read the play as prepared. The Spanish-English vocabulary is limited in most cases to defining the word as it occurs in the text, and frequently only an approximation of the meaning has been attempted. For instance, the English equivalents of the same Latin origin as the sonorous Spanish terms that are used so naturally by the man-servant Bruno and the garrulous Nicolasa would be strangers to the lips of English-speaking individuals of corresponding station. There has been added a series of questions and topics (Preguntas y Temas) that may serve as suggestions for exercises in composition. The questions follow the thread of the story, but they are not meant to be exhaustive, while the number of topics for descriptive paragraphs or additional dialogue can readily be increased. Instead of the usual biographical data collected from many sources and presented to the student in English, selections have been taken from a life-sketch of Gorostiza written by the distinguished Mexican Roa Bárcena, who secured his information from Gorostiza's son. Naturally the biographer has thrown into high relief the part which Gorostiza took in the interesting events that occurred in Europe and in the New World during his lifetime. We are mainly concerned with Gorostiza the dramatist. Next to Juan Ruiz de Alarcón (1581?-1639), Mexico honors him as her greatest modern representative in the dramatic field. Furthermore, the play "Contigo Pan y Cebolla" is given first place on the list of his many literary achievements. This play the reader is left to gauge by his own standards. No two individual opinions will be exactly alike, and the judgment of non-Spanish critics will naturally be different from that formed by those to whom Spanish is the native tongue. By good fortune there is available a criticism of "Contigo Pan y Cebolla" written by Mariano José de Larra, and to serve as a guide there have been included here a few paragraphs from the pen of this contemporary of Gorostiza, who was the foremost Spanish satirist and dramatic critic of his time. Thus the reader has before him specimens of the prose writings of three distinguished men. All three write in Spanish; yet all three differ in style and in temperament. To those readers in America who have hitherto looked for the best things with a backward glance there should be a certain significance in the fact that two of these writers are of Mexican birth. E. McG. BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA CONTENTS NOTICIA BIOGRÁFICA _José M. Roa Bárcena_ CRÍTICA DE CONTIGO PAN Y CEBOLLA _M.J. de Larra_ CONTIGO PAN Y CEBOLLA TEXT NOTES EXERCISES VOCABULARY NOTICIA BIOGRÁFICA Gorostiza nació en nuestro puerto de Veracruz el 13 de octubre de 1789, de una familia española distinguida, cuyo jefe, el general D. Pedro de Gorostiza, vino a la Nueva España con el segundo Conde de Revillagigedo, de quien era pariente o amigo, a encargarse del mando civil y militar de aquella plaza. Su madre, D.ª María del Rosario Cepeda, contaba entre sus ascendientes a Santa Teresa de Jesús, y había heredado su ingenio y afición al estudio, de que dió buenas pruebas en Cádiz. Muerto D. Pedro en 1794, la viuda regresó a Madrid con tres hijos, siendo nacidos en España D. Francisco, en quien debía recaer el mayorazgo, y D. Pedro Ángel, después matemático notable y a quien como literato elogia D. Eugenio de Ochoa en el _Tesoro del Teatro Español_. El menor, nuestro D. Manuel, habiendo recogido el primero los bienes patrimoniales y...

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Published in 1813, Contigo Pan y Cebolla (With You, Bread and Onion) is a classic comedy from Mexico's early independence period. It’s a sharp, quick-witted play that feels much more modern than its age suggests.

The Story

The plot revolves around Don Lucas, a charming but penniless young man. He's deeply in love with Doña Inés, a woman from a wealthy family. There's just one massive problem: her father would never let her marry a poor man. So, Don Lucas cooks up a scheme. He pretends to be a man of fortune, hiding his true, threadbare circumstances. The title gives away his secret diet—he can only afford bread and onions. The whole play is a frantic, funny scramble as he tries to keep up the charade, avoid creditors, and win his love before his house of cards collapses.

Why You Should Read It

I loved how this play pokes fun at something we all understand: the pressure to appear successful. Don Lucas isn't a villain; he's a relatable guy stuck between his heart and his empty wallet. Gorostiza writes with a light touch and genuine warmth for his characters. The dialogue is snappy, and the situations—from dodging landlords to explaining away a lack of fancy furniture—are comedy gold. It’s more than just jokes, though. Underneath the laughter, it asks real questions about what we value in a partner and in society.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect pick for anyone who thinks classic literature has to be stuffy or slow. If you enjoy clever romantic comedies, sharp social satire, or just a really good story about a lovable schemer, you'll have a blast. It’s a short, satisfying read that offers a hilarious and insightful peek into another time, while reminding us that some human dilemmas never change.



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Dorothy Ramirez
1 year ago

I stumbled upon this title and it provides a comprehensive overview perfect for everyone. A true masterpiece.

Joshua Williams
11 months ago

Clear and concise.

James Nguyen
1 year ago

From the very first page, the atmosphere created is totally immersive. Exceeded all my expectations.

Ava Garcia
3 months ago

Without a doubt, the clarity of the writing makes this accessible. This story will stay with me.

Elijah Gonzalez
11 months ago

As someone who reads a lot, the character development leaves a lasting impact. I will read more from this author.

4.5
4.5 out of 5 (26 User reviews )

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