Publication: La percepción del self a través del shapeshifting: sobre la condición humana en el medioevo nórdico
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2020
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Temas Medievales
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Abstract
El objetivo de este artículo consiste en analizar la manera en que se comprendía la condición humana en el contexto nórdico medieval a través del fenómeno del shapeshifting. Se prestará particular atención a la relación entre el self y el significado que adquieren las transformaciones representadas en Vǫlsunga saga. Estos casos se dividirán en tres grupos diferenciados, con características propias. Por un lado, los intercambios de apariencia entre seres humanos tendrán como objetivo engañar y ocultar una identidad. Por otro, las transformaciones en animales inofensivos reflejan actitudes positivas hacia la sociedad o simple indiferencia, mientras que aquellas que involucran animales bestiales representan prácticas peligrosas para el mantenimiento del orden social. No obstante, todos estos casos coinciden en la forma en que es considerado el individuo. Se argumentará que aquellas características personales que sobreviven a la a metamorfosis son signo de las cualidades más esenciales del individuo y se demostrará que el self se comprendía como una entidad pública e inseparable de la posición que este mantenía en la sociedad.
The aim of this article is to analyze the ways in which human condition was understood in the Medieval Norse through the phenomenon of shapeshifting. Special attention will be paid to the relationship between the self and the meaning of the transformations represented in Vǫlsunga saga. These cases are divided into three different groups with their own characteristics. On the one hand, the exchanges of appearances among human beings have the objective to trick and conceal an identity. Conversely, the transformations into inoffensive animals reflect positive attitudes towards society or mere indifference, while those involving bestial animals represent dangerous practices that threaten the social order. Nonetheless, all these cases coincide in the way in which the individual is considered. It will be argued that those elements of the person that survive to the metamorphosis are signs of the most essential qualities of the individual and we will demonstrate that the self was understood as a public entity and was inseparable from his position in society.
The aim of this article is to analyze the ways in which human condition was understood in the Medieval Norse through the phenomenon of shapeshifting. Special attention will be paid to the relationship between the self and the meaning of the transformations represented in Vǫlsunga saga. These cases are divided into three different groups with their own characteristics. On the one hand, the exchanges of appearances among human beings have the objective to trick and conceal an identity. Conversely, the transformations into inoffensive animals reflect positive attitudes towards society or mere indifference, while those involving bestial animals represent dangerous practices that threaten the social order. Nonetheless, all these cases coincide in the way in which the individual is considered. It will be argued that those elements of the person that survive to the metamorphosis are signs of the most essential qualities of the individual and we will demonstrate that the self was understood as a public entity and was inseparable from his position in society.