Ana Ozores, trapped in a loveless marriage and rigid societal expectations, yearns for freedom and self-determination. The novel analyzes the social and sexual oppression of women in 19th century Spain, including their simultaneous idealization and devaluation as thinking, feeling beings.

The city of Vetusta is dominated by the Catholic Church, but behind the facade of piety lie intrigue, abuse of power, and repressed desires. The clergy, embodied by the ambitious Don Fermín and the torn Don Álvaro, exemplifies the discrepancy between appearance and reality.

Amidst the stifling atmosphere of Vetusta, the characters search for an escape from boredom, convention, and self-deception. Ana tries to find solace in love and faith but fails due to the constraints of her environment and her own inner turmoil.