Spanish Literature: Picaresque & Chivalry

Posted on Oct 1, 2024 in Latin

Social Causes of the Picaresque

Four causes determine the appearance of the picaresque:

1. Unemployment: Caused by the expulsion of the Jews, which led to significant job losses and economic hardship. This was compounded by the loss of wealth and businesses in the Americas.

2. Purity of Blood: Society divided based on lineage, with those of mixed ancestry or Jewish descent facing discrimination.

3. The Counter-Reformation Conflict: The Church’s attempt to suppress reformist ideas led to the Council of Trent, aiming to control the dissemination of reformist texts.

4. Cultural Context: Following the Council of Trent, religious books promoting Counter-Reformation ideas were emphasized.

The Irony in Lazarillo de Tormes

Irony is central to the work, contrasting with established moral standards. Two key examples:

• The Blind Man: Socially and morally harmful to Lázaro, yet teaches him survival skills.

• The Clergy: Respected socially, but portrayed as exploitative and unscrupulous towards Lázaro.

Lázaro represents the anti-hero. Here’s a comparison between a chivalric hero and Lázaro:

Cervantes’ Theory in Don Quixote

Cervantes’ theory rests on three axes:

1. Fiction vs. Reality: A balance between fantasy and reality engages the reader while maintaining relatability.

2. Unity vs. Plurality: A central narrative maintains unity while incorporating diverse elements, achieving structural balance.

3. Pleasure vs. Cruelty: Harmonizing entertainment with didacticism, providing both enjoyment and instruction.

Achievements of Don Quixote

• Literary: Reinterprets literary tradition, creating a key work of world literature.

• Social: Reflects a crisis of social, human, and religious values relevant to the time.

• Human: Symbolizes human duality and the struggle for ideals.

• Character Development: Creates a relatable, psychologically complex hero whose humiliations, rather than heroic deeds, elevate him.

Chivalric Romance

Chivalric romance reached its peak before Don Quixote, which parodies the genre. These stories feature a noble hero serving a just cause, seeking a lady’s love.

• Physical: Young, handsome, well-dressed.

• Psychological: Noble, chivalrous, adhering to courtly love.

Function: To present a paradigm of perfect, stylized behavior. Examples: Tirant lo Blanc and Amadis of Gaul.

Differences Between Don Quixote Book 1 and Book 2