Countering Anthropocentrism: The Animal Plaint in Late Medieval Iberia

Abstract

This dissertation delves into the historical and literary exploration of animal fictions as a medium for social critique and political contention, particularly focusing on the tradition of animal complaint against humans in Iberian literature of the Late Middle Ages. It further explores the symbolic use of animals in literature, where animals are not merely stand-ins for human characters but are employed to critique human exceptionalism and the anthropocentric world order. This literary tradition, extending from ancient to modern times across various cultures and epochs, utilizes animal characters to question and challenge the established norms of power, sovereignty, and human dominion over other species. The dissertation argues that these narratives serve as a platform for reimagining community structures and the hierarchy of beings, thereby contesting the political distribution of voice and agency. Central to this dissertation is the examination of specific texts from the Iberian tradition during the Late Middle Ages, where animals, endowed with speech, lament their treatment by humans and condemn their arrogance. This motif, largely unexplored in scholarly literature from the perspective of Critical Animal Studies, is scrutinized for its literary, ethical, and political implications. The analysis spans a wide array of literary works and genres, highlighting the recurring themes of animal grievance and the critique of human actions and ethics. The dissertation posits that these animal plaints not only reflect a non-anthropocentric critique but also contribute to the intertextual richness of animal literature, connecting disparate works and traditions through common themes and motifs. It also suggests that the literary device of animal plaints has significant implications for the development of modern moral and philosophical theories that challenge human-centered worldviews and advocate for a more empathetical relationship with nonhuman animals. In conclusion, this dissertation explores the potential of literary zoophony to foster empathy towards animal suffering, while also considering the limitations and possible distortions in understanding the needs of other species through humanized animal representations.