La polifonía épica en El Monserrate: La voz del amor de Lixerea y Armeno

This essay focuses on the ideological confrontation that takes place in the epic poem El Monserrate by Cristóbal de Virués, published for the first time in 1587. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that this epic poem has a polyphonic character due to the tense coexistence of Universalism and Relativism that appears in the poem. Universalism is supported by the Papal discourse when he indicates that the expansion of Catholicism by means of the Spanish Empire will bring universal happiness. This ideology bears an epistemic resemblance to the Neoplatonism of Marsilio Ficino and León Hebreo. However, Universalism is questioned by the love story of two Muslim characters: Lixerea and Armeno. Lixerea's death in battle represents the impossibility of Armeno's happiness, despite his final conversion to Christianity. In fact, Armeno dies because his life does not seem to have any meaning or any possibility of fulfillment without Lixerea. Armeno's sense of incompleteness, which is also expressed by Lixerea before her death, can be found in the work of other authors such as Ausiàs March (1400-1459) and El Greco (1541-1614). Armeno's spiritual breakdown and death despite having converted to Christianity questions the universalist project of the Pope. As a matter of fact, the dialogic character of this epic poem shows the ideological tension that existed in Spain and in Europe during this period and, at the same time, proves the importance of the study of Spanish epic poetry to understand the culture of the period. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.