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Góngora and Christóvão de Moura: Portraits in Nature in the Sonnet “Árbol, de cuyos ramos fortunados”

2010; Routledge; Volume: 64; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/00397700903577878

1931-0676

Diane Chaffee-Sorace,

Historical Studies on Spain

Like many writers, the Spanish poet Luis de Góngora y Argote employs images of nature in his verse to illustrate the evanescence of life or to make moral comparisons between mankind and the external world. Like some authors, he also uses these symbols to depict individuals and politics of his day. This essay tells how, with arboreal, ornithological, arthropodan, and other images of nature in the sonnet “Árbol, de cuyos ramos fortunados,” the poet describes himself and the Portuguese nobleman, Christóvão de Moura, whose patronage he tries to win with both praises and threats. More importantly, the article presents Góngora as a masterful portrayer of and commentator on people and events of Golden-Age Spain.