Episodes in «Persiles and Sigismunda» shaped by ‘Byzantine tales’ from the «Gesta Romanorum»

Abstract

Only recently has there been a recognition of the literary influence in Spain of the ‘examples’ found in the Gesta Romanorum, a collection of tales widely spread and fertile in adaptations throughout Medieval and Renaissance northern Europe. Just as other Hispanic writers did who were contemporaries of Cervantes, he would have been able to read them without difficulty in the original Latin, which is highly simplified for the use of preachers. The plot and images of two of the gesta written in the style of a Byzantine novel shape corresponding episodes in the Persiles, which is well known for Cervantes’ statement that in it he sought to compete with the Byzantine novel set in Ethiopia by Heliodorus. A whale swallowing Auristela’s ship in one of the tales, like her rescue and subsequent forced choice between suitors, provide situations and phrases used by Cervantes to portray the intense love between Persiles and his sweetheart/pretended sister, Sigismunda, as was done also in other Hispanic adaptations of the legend.