Reasonable persuasion: speech in García de la Huerta's Raquel

Reasonable persuasion: speech in García de la Huerta's Raquel Public Deposited

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Eidson, Megan Irene
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Romance Studies

Abstract

This thesis investigates the nature of persuasive speeches made by Hernán García and Raquel in order to persuade King Alfonso to turn his attentions respectively toward the Castillian people and Raquel. Each speech uses particular techniques that are born within the genders of the speakers, and each speech is successful because of these strategies. These speeches reflect the contemporary political atmosphere of the author, García de la Huerta's, literary age and reflect a representation of the events surrounding the Esquilache riots. In this way, the author goes beyond a simple demonstration of the world as it is, but in fact accuses Esquilache of misdeeds by demonstrating him to have fallen into feminine habits of excessive greed and emotion that drive him. The author thus warns Carlos III against such influences that are evidenced in gendered persuasive discourse.

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