Representaciones de la mujer española en el imaginario francés del siglo XVIII.

Abstract

The prototypical Spanish women recurrently found in the French novel, particularly since the nineteenth century, is one of a dark, sensual woman driven by uncontrolled passions. This view goes back to the eighteenth century model which we believe draws from the travel literature, a literary genre of its own that was popular at the time. The illustrated view of travel and women permeates the travellers perception of Spanish life and, as the century progresses, the travellers will become more interested in capturing the reality of contemporary Spain. Their stories provide not only a description but also a personal interpretation of the life of Spanish women. With a view to creating a portrayal of women from different angles, we have compiled a corpus of seven books of voyages to Spain, published between 1691 and 1797. These stories present a prototypical female figure built out of superimposed models, presenting basically the most distinct features that characterize Spanish women. A more dynamic study shows how the discourse articulated by these writers/travellers revolves substantially around the special relationship that the women have with the opposite sex and also around their peculiar love rituals. This portrayal of the Spanish woman seduces the traveller and has earned a place in the French imagery. Within the stereotype depicting Spain as a passion-ridden country, Spanish women appear to embody the most exalted manifestation of the southern temperament. But there is a play on ambiguity that adds an air of ignorance and devotion to their otherwise diabolic and seductive nature. This duplicity makes the Spanish woman all the more fascinating to the traveller. Together with the details present in the static characterization of the Spanish woman and which are now an essential constituent of her image, the French travellers include in their books a number of features that will be further developed in the literary characters found in later French novels. Together they will compose the española type which has lasted even to this day.