Sobre el autor y su obra
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Medieval Spain, 1282-1348
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Noble – nephew of Alfonso X of Castile; titles
of Lord, Duke, and Prince
o
He really wanted to have a big noble title – he
was always resentful about his lack of good title; this influences some of his
works, such as El libro de los estados
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Politician, soldier, and writer
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Religious influence:
o
Influence of Dominic order in Don Juan Manuel’s
upbringing – objective: vigilar por la fe; very pro-establishment
§
There are various stories in his work that have
to do with the Dominic order folks
o
The contrary to Dominic order is the Franciscan
order – rather anti-establishment, idea of teaching by example
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Wrote in Castilian, rather than Latin (like
Alfonso X) – wrote in vernacular to facilitate access to literature for a
greater number of Castilian readers
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Works are directed to a variety of social
classes (not only upper class and lords, but rather lower class and vassals)
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Themes: preoccupation with both practical and
spiritual life
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He’s a bit revolutionary in that he is conscious
that he’s writing something that can/will be useful to others
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He’s very philosophical, especially compared
with Juan Ruiz, who’s very hands-on
Descendants/Family of don Juan Manuel & Implications for royalty
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Enrique de Trastamara came from his family line
a bit later on down the road – yay nobility!
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Marriage for alliance purposes (rather than for
any romantic notions) --- married someone who was in opposition to the royal
family (as way of moving forward his own advancement goals) – an Aragonesa
(they were against Castilians)
-
Don Juan Manuel really wanted to have a big
noble title – he was always resentful about his lack of good title; this
influences some of his works, such as El
libro de los estados
-
Don Juan Manuel is representative of the
rebellious nobility typical of the time period that wants to have power no
matter what.
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Don Juan Manuel breaks his own bonds with the
royal house; breaks his vassalage because he doesn’t feel like the royalty has
met his needs --- he wrote a letter explaining this
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El Conde
Lucanor
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Temas importantes: Conde Lucanor
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Counsel of how to act/behave, to youth
especially
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Didactic purpose
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Orality
o
Very repetitive
o
Follows a set formula/frame – easier to remember
to tell
o
The listener/reader anticipates
structure/concept
o
“All medieval literary production is intended
for oral reproduction” (Professor). A text like Cantar
del mio Cid is always meant for oral purposes, it's kind of an exception
that it was recorded in a written manuscript. Meanwhile, a text like Conde Lucanor was meant to be written,
innately connected with a text - but still intended for oral reproduction.
o
Spanish literature is proverbial – proverbs can
be found in all literature in Spain.
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Memory (and relationship of memory with
intellect and will/voluntad)
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Objective/goal = salvation (idea of message of
what is necessary for salvation)
Structure of El conde lucanor
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51 “example” stories, within a frame/“marco”
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The structure of stories in El Conde Lucanor
reflects the ordinances and hierarchical structuring of the medieval world. In
the first parts a young nobleman, Lucanor, proposes an abstract/worldly problem
to Patronio; later, he gives an apologue which extracts the solution from
Patronio's tale, applying it to himself. Juan Manuel (a character listening to
the conversation) concludes the story with a short verse, condensing the moral
of the story into short, concrete statements.
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Idea of story within a story – the example given
in each story is kind of a separate, detached entity
El ejemplo XI y los
comienzos de la prosa artística
(Ejemplo XI: “De lo que contesció a un deán de Sanctiago con don
Illán, el grand maestro de Toledo”)
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Summary of story/example: Count Lucanor asks
Patronio for advice. Luc has started to do a man a favor, in exchange for which
the man promised to do Luc any favor requested in return. But, Luc has tried to
cash in this favor, and the man keeps making excuses. Patronio offers as
counsel the story of a dean of Santiago and the grand master don Illán. The
dean wanted to learn necromancy from the don Illán. But the don Illán didn’t
think he would ever do him any favor in return due to his high social class.
Dean promises to favor him, and Illán finally agrees. They start their lessons.
Early on, the dean gets word that the Archbishop is ill, but he doesn’t want to
abandon his lessons. A few days later he gets word that the archbishop has
died, and he is up to be elected in his place. Later still, he learns that he
is indeed the new Archbishop. Illán is pleased to hear this, and asks if the
now empty position of dean can be given to one of his sons. The Dean/Archbishop
refuses and says he will favor him later. Later, the dean/archbishop is
advanced further, and Illán reminds him of the favor he is owed, asking if the
new position of archbishop can be granted to his son. The Dean/Archbishop
refuses again and promises a later favor. The same thing happens a bit later,
with another advancement. The guy is eventually advanced to Pope, and never
repays Illán the favor. Illán protests and the guy/pope treats him badly, so
Illán bails at last and returns to his home town. Illán does some necromancy
trick, in which the dean is immediately returned back in time to the beginning
of the lessons, and Illán turns him away since he has exposed his true nature.
Thus: Patronio’s advice is for Luc not to put his neck out to help this man,
when he may not ever repay him the favor. Lesson’s final verses: “If you help a
man who gives you no thanks, the more he prospers, the less will he help you.”
General Notes
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Orden vs. desorden
o
Obra
es un intento de recomendar orden para la vida
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Genre:
libro de ejemplos / exemplum
o
Mejor
colección de ejemplos que existe en español, y el más complejo
o
Many of this type of text don’t have a “marco”
or frame – don Juan Manuel gives it a common frame (all under context of conde
Lucanor and Patronio)
o
Idea of it being a sort of “how-to” manual
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Text in 5 parts – three more expansive parts,
narrows down at end into two more specific parts… it gets more and more
difficult to comprehend as you get farther in.
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For common people, it’s hard to remember the
moral, but it’s easier to remember the example
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Don Juan Manuel applies these morals to
practical problems… rather secular
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Several religious orders established in this
time period
o
These orders preached in vernacular, often
preaching against heresy
o
Dominicanos
o
Franciscanos
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Los ejemplos de don Juan Manuel no son una
creación original de él en muchos casos – he took them from other sources, and
modified them to his purposes (just like Berceo’s Milagros)
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Don Juan Manuel always wanted a kingdom – bitter
about not having any title
o
Wanted a big title to be able to remain
prevalent in history even after his death
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All medieval writers dedicate their texts to
nobles, because they know that they can receive something in return
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Gothic influence – realismo gótico
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The moral and story are somewhat separate in
some ways – if someone reads and doesn’t like the moral, they don’t have to
accept it… they can infer a different moral from the story based on their own
interpretation
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Vida activa vs. vida contemplative
o
Active – cardenales
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Example III
o
Rey Ricardo
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Idea of San Agustin’s theory of the faculties of
the soul: intellect, will/voluntad, and memory
o
Conde
Lucanor as a work of “memory” because Patronio is remembering all of these
examples in order to teach Conde Lucanor (and audience)
o
Patronio appeals to Conde Lucanor’s intellect in
order to come up with a solution; solution is an act of will, because Lucanor
must act in agreement with what he learns
o
Viesso/refrán/moraleja al final –
summarizes/remembers the entire story, short and sweet style… indicates the
main point (the only thing you need to remember); if you remember this, you can
apply the same message/teaching to a different situation
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Idea of collective vs. individual voice:
o
As the renaissance comes on, there is a
development of a more individualized voice. Conde
Lucanor retains a rather collective medieval mentality, in which the
characters are representative of the public in general. The Conde Lucanor and
Patronio are symbolic constructs, rather than voices representing an individual
thought (that of the author, Don Juan Manuel, for example).
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Example I: “What happened to a king with his
favorite”
o
Exemplum: A king has been told by jealous nobles
that his favorite adviser wants to kill him. So the adviser is warned that he’s
in problems, so the adviser decides to go to the king and lie and say that he
will follow him anywhere and will always be faithful. The king decides that the
adviser is good after all, and so he doesn’t kill him.
o
So, the text isn’t trying to suggest a search
for truth all the time. It’s a manual for nobles – sometimes the best thing you
can do is lie.
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Idea about truth – the ultimate truth is God’s
truth, so everything all works out in the end…
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El libro de las armas / Las tres razones
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Basic Idea
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A sort of justification of who he (the
father, don Juan Manuel) is today, what he has done that has led to this
identity, why he has the armas that he has, etc.
o
Justifying his political position; justifies his
rebellion against royal house – through evocation of his arms
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Very fictionalized autobiography
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Intended audience: Don Juan Manuel’s children
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This is one of Don Juan Manuel’s works which has
received the most critical attention, since it appears as one of the earliest
autobiographies in literature
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General notes
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His arms: declare his royal/noble connection and
have symbolic significance
o
Lion – symbol of royalty, strength/power,
kingdom of León
o
Wing
o
Sword – strength, power, reference to cross; “la
espada lobera” (passed down through family line?)
o
Mano + ala = Manuel (wowww…)
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Begins text by writing about a dream
o
Essential aspect of life
o
(stuff in secondary sources) – Borrero article
o
He uses it as evidence of divine favor (like in
the Cid, and also in Poema de Fernán Gonzalez… also in Leonor
de Cordoba later)
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Importance of testimony – Borrero article
o
Importance of testimony of vision rather than
testimony of hearing (testimony of vision is preferred); you can manipulate
what is heard (gossips/liars, etc.) but you can’t change what is seen
o
Crosses over into New World topics as well
(chronicles)
o
Testimonio de vista en primera persona is the
start to the whole thing; the central base (people who write texts recounting
what they know as eye witnesses)
o
Testimony of vision gives sense of authenticity;
you can trust it
o
*** Don Juan Manuel mixes both types of testimony
– vision and hearing (“this is what I have heard noble people say in the
court”)… this gives more value and authenticity to his text
§
The heard testimonies he gives are from
trustworthy people
o
There is a huge biblical basis for the
importance of testimony, which would have definitely influenced its
significance in [religious] medieval society
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Text is fiction mixed reality
o
Fiction to beautify the reality – set within a
particular context to give the message he wishes to convey in the most
effective and pretty manner
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Religious context/influence
o
Theme of divine blessing – (example: idea of one
of biblical Noah’s sons, Japhet, who receives the divine blessing and thus
initiates the preferred line – European)
o
Basic/underlying (and unstated but implicit)
frame is that don Juan Manuel is proclaiming his willingness and desire to
serve until the Second Coming; he is presenting his family as good soldiers to
serve until that point
o
Sets up the idea that his family is constantly
in relation/communication with God – they are behaving the way that God wants
them to; following divine will
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*** Major theme: how to find the truth (searches
for it in these testimonies… then – is the truth that he finds really true?)
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El libro de los estados (1327-1332)
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Goal of the medieval man when he’s reading –
understand more about the world; knowledge based on reliable authorities
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Style of the work: questions and answers between
a king and his son, and a gentleman who raised the son and a philosopher
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Objective of the work: religious salvation
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Don Juan Manuel
establishes himself as a figure of authority, rather than relying on previously
used authorities – a change! This shows a development in the significance of
the author in his own text.
o
The work is based on Barlaam y Josafat – but Don Juan doesn’t say that. He uses this
strategy to establish his own authority.
o
Don Juan Manuel also cites himself, rather than
citing others.
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Example 33
o
The king is symbolized by an eagle. Idea of
authority – eagle is the “king” of the birds.
o
Falcon – also noble bird, represents an
important noble
o
Summary/events – the falcons hunt, but the eagle
takes the prey away. The falcon has to cede to the eagle, because the eagle is
more powerful. The falcon gets fed up and the birds fight.
o
Allegorical concept: The message reflects Don
Juan Manuel’s own situation, in which he’s a powerful noble, but the king
abuses his rights against him.
o
Idea that Don Juan Manuel is justifying his
rebellion against the king by explaining the injustice that he faced.
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Idea that medieval society is a reflection of
divine society. If there’s a king on earth, it’s because there’s one in heaven.
This is the correct way of doing things, because it’s what is done in heaven.
So the king is justified in his position, because someone has to be the leader
– just like God is in heaven.
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Three sections/states of society (estamento);
these social groups are divided by “privilegio,” or certain rights that distinguish
them
o
Oradores – monjes (privilegio – outside of
secular law, under canonic law; privilegio of fighting for the faith)
o
Defensores
– nobleza (privilegio de poder)
o
Labradores – clase baja (this is divided two
ways – the ones that work in cities, and the ones that work the land)
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*Important
distinction: Omnes ricos – gente con mucho dinero; ricos omnes – nobleza,
richness of character
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Idea of impossibility of movement between social
classes – everyone stays in the class that they are born into. Anyone who
starts a revolt/revolution is a heretic – because it’s like questioning the
holy kingdom, since the royal kingdom is a reflection of heaven.
o
For Don Juan Manuel, his reaction is never a
revolution – it’s a reaction against injustice. It would be different if he had
started a social revolution/war type deal.
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This is the only work in vernacular language
that deals with themes of social class/inheritance from the perspective of a
great noble.
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La visión organizista – use of the metaphor of
the human body
o
This was significant in various of Don Juan
Manuel’s texts (especially El libro de los estados) but also in medieval
literature in general
o
Idea that the body serves as a “house” for the
soul – so that means that the human body is composed of various parts… you are
two parts: the body and the soul
o
The body reflects the personality/nature of a
person
o
The society is a body, with different
organs/functions – different body parts represent different functions
§
This is derived in some ways from biblical idea
§
Hierarchal organization – head is superior,
represents superior group (defensores)… all the parts are essential/necessary,
but not all are as important
§
Three general sections that are spoken of – head,
torso, and legs
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