EL ARPA Y LA SOMBRA: INTERTEXTUAL PROCESSES IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHARACTER OF CHRISTOPHER COLOMBUS

El arpa y la sombra by Alejo Carpentier narrates the unsuccessful attempt made by Popes Pio IX and Leon XIII to beatify Christopher Columbus. By means of a broad net of intertexts, the image of the Admiral gradually takes shape. El libro de Cristobal Colon by Paul Claudel and Diarios by Columbus himself are articulated as fundamental intertexts for the development of the three parts of the novel: "The harp", "The hand" and "The shadow". Sundry degrees of intertextuality coexist in the book together with a vast corpus of references, quotes and allusions, more or less explicit depending on the narrative moment. The aim of all this is to deconstruct and demystify the traditional image. The final purpose is to display a more critical view of the Admiral through intertextual coordination.