In Misericordia, Galdós portrays the lives of the most disadvantaged classes in late 19th-century Madrid. The story follows Benina, a woman of exemplary kindness who works in a house of the declining bourgeoisie. Due to the difficult situation of her employers, Benina is forced to beg in order to help them financially. While the society she lives in is marked by pride and the importance of appearances, Benina maintains her humanity and dignity, facing a hostile world without ever losing her nobility.
Misericordia serves as a representative work about social exclusion and offers a timeless critique of the values that underpin society. Through Benina's character, Galdós denounces inequalities and the unjust treatment of the most vulnerable, while also posing a deep reflection on the true nature of humanity.