La "epidemia de la soledad": la enfermedad y el amor en El albergue de las mujeres tristes de Marcela Serrano

Abstract

This article proposes a reading of Marcela Serrano’s novel El albergue de las mujeres tristes that integrates the themes of love and health. The discourse surrounding illness is examined, revealing how the author constructs a portrayal of a society overwhelmed by an ‘epidemic of loneliness’. The melancholic vision depicted in this work is interpreted through the lens of Eva Illouz’s studies on modern love within the realm of cultural sociology. The conclusion drawn is that the novel presents aegritudo amoris as a social phenomenon: the contemporary self is ensnared by modern institutions, hindering their ability to find happiness in the personal sphere.