A study of passions in Cárcel de amor

What is it about?

Following a study of a likely impact of Aquinas's Summa Theologica in the late fifteenth century Castile, this essay argues that Diego de San Pedro's Cárcel de amor is a masterful study of human emotions, likely grounded in Aquinas's treatise on the passions of the soul. A careful analysis of several characters' emotions leads to the consideration of the critical role of the figure of El Auctor in the text, inspired by the representation of poets in the Fifth canto of Dante's Commedia.

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Why is it important?

Through a close reading, this study identifies Aquinas's treatise on the passions as a probable doctrinal influence on Cárcel de amor. By demonstrating the steady focus on the representation of affects that guide characters' behaviour, the article expands the thematic repertoire of San Pedro's text. It points out the complexity of Cárcel, and shows how the author masterfully exemplifies, through the use of language, the influence of emotions on human reasoning and behaviour.