Spanish Culture: What do you notice/ learn about Spanish custom and culture from this work? Some themes include: romance, social class, travel, etc.

[Ebookwormy1]

I am not yet done reading, but I will throw out my initial, raw ideas to get the conversation started.

1) Spaniards are nosy. I think this jumped out to me because being an English speaker, I have read many English/ British novels. The English novel is in many ways an American's gateway to the European continent. And the English do NOT ask, much less expect, every person they encounter on a road or at an inn, to share their life story. Nor do those who share their story make so many references to their willingness to fill in innumerable details (time permitting) in future encounters. The relational temperature of this work is far different from the works of Jane Austen (which also focus on themes of women and relationships).

2) Beautiful Spanish women are abundant, if not merely desirable.

3) Many wealthy men have a single daughter to whom their entire estate will pass. Said daughter's make flighty decisions in matters of love that lead to elaborate stories.

4) Love is the singular influence women have over men, and they often exercise it foolishly. Either they misplace their affections, or give their affection prematurely. Women need men to help them make good choices in matters of love.

5) I was struck by how quickly Don Fernando, first introduced by Cardenio, is transformed from a rogue villain into an honorable hero via Dorotea's affection (which breaks his hold over Luscinda).

6) Wealth (an insulas!) are highly sought. Power is a definite player in the description of relationships, and power is assessed immediately when encountering people unknown.

7) Moorish culture and ideas play a large part in Spanish life, but through those who go to Moorish lands, and Moors who remain/ travel in Spanish lands. However, Moorish culture and the religion of Islam, while not viewed with hostility, is presented as paling in comparison to (Spanish Catholic) Christianity. Men of weak or nefarious constitution manipulate the religious convictions of others by change religious alliances to suit their worldly aims.

8) While France and England are referenced, particularly in regard to chivalric legends, the life of Spain centers around the Moorish lands and Italy. Given the geography this makes sense, but it caused me to see the world in a different way - a way in which Spain was more at the center.

9) I caught glimpses of why Peninsulares (those born in Spain) were given exclusive claim to offices in the New World (over Creoles who were born in the New World and thus more accessible and knowledgeable about the land). The wealth and power of the Spanish empire couldn't be limited to Spain. They needed more offices, more power positions, to spread out among the many people rising to those ranks. In this way, the Spanish empire, with it's embrace of position, was different from the British, who seemed to view colonial appointments as either short term jaunts or long term banishment.