Prayer and Attitude Towards Others in the Opening Section of Cantar de mio Cid

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present an analysis of the introductory section of Cantar demio Cid in the light of biblical parallels and doctrinal and prayer patterns. This sectionof the song, which tells about the hero’s persecution by medieval Castile, in additionto well–known and visible prayer patterns, is full of numerous examples of latentbiblical influences that have not been under sufficient scrutiny in previous research.Therefore, Cid’s figure embodies the theological virtues of faith, hope and love onthe one hand, and the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, strength and moderationon the other. The main hero incorporates all the essential elements of doctrine andmorality, prayer, virtue, but also practical life decisions into a literary text. Cantar demio Cid is therefore — apart from being a superb literary work — also a handbookon Christian life depicting a person of flesh and blood, an individual who strives tolive and survive, to remain morally upright in circumstances that are often far fromideal. This paper will focus on one fragment of the main character’s complex personality,more precisely on his relationship to God and his neighbour — primarily tomembers of his immediate family — in an extremely difficult crisis moment, namely, the Cid’s expulsion from Castile; moreover, the focus will be on the reaction of his family in religious and moral terms, particularly as regards the hero’s wife Ximena.