Abstract
This article examines the Baroque genre of the relacion del auto de fe. Previous studies have used the relaciones as reliable accounts of the events and reception of the auto, have considered them as memorial supplements to the events, or have rejected them as useless propaganda. I argue that we should read the relaciones not for what they tell us about the auto, but for what they tell us about the Inquisition's strategies for representing power during the period of its decline. I argue that it is precisely when we read these relaciones as ‘literature’ - that is, when we pay attention to the use of language and symbol, the construction of narrative arc, and the creation of ‘characters’ - that they become useful historical documents, revealing both the Inquisition's idealized view of its own power and position, and the increasingly fictive nature of that power.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
