Resumen
El breve ejemplo intitulado preservado únicamente en el MS 77 de la Biblioteca Menéndez Pelayo y conocido generalmente como la Monja que se arrancó los ojos, narra la historia de una monja que, en vez de someterse a la lujuria de un rey, opta por mutilarse para rechazar sus atenciones. Este artículo, que se funda en teorías de la vista y de la abyección (mostrando como desde una cierta perspectiva teórica podrían considerarse como hermenéuticas complementarias para abordar el mismo asunto), analiza las complejas implicaciones simbólicas de la auto-mutilación, mostrando como las acciones de la monja se podrían interpretar desde un panorama de perspectivas complementarias. 1 Andrew M. Beresford is Professor in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at Durham University (UK). His areas of expertise include hagiography and other religious subjects of early Spanish literature and art, and explores new theoretical approaches to these topics. Among his many publications are three books, the most recent of which is The Severed Breast: The Legends of Saints Agatha and Lucy in Medieval Castilian Literature (2010), several edited volumes, and numerous journal articles. He holds a PhD from the University of London. Miríada Hispánica, 12
Palabras clave: Ejemplo, hagiografía, escopofilia, abyección
Abstract
The brief untitled exemplum preserved uniquely in MS 77 of the Biblioteca Menéndez Pelayo and generally known as the Monja que se arrancó los ojos, tells the tale of a nun who, rather than submit to the lechery of a king, opts instead to mutilate herself in order to spurn his attentions. This article, which draws on theories of the gaze and of abjection (showing how from a certain theoretical perspective they could be considered complementary hermeneutics for tackling the same issue), analyses the complex symbolic implications of self-mutilation, showing how the Nun’s actions could be interpreted from a range of complementary perspectives.
Keywords: Exemplum, hagiography, scopophilia, abjection