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Analysis Of The Alhambra

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The Alhambra is constructed on two distinct levels which are equally important for its creation and which will be addressed separately: the level of 19th century Spanish-Moorish world which entices Irving by means of customs, manners and the divers traits of its inhabitants, and the level of Moorish legends and folklore. The first part of the analysis will examine the first aspect and the way it is depicted in this work, but not before briefly stating that the coming of Irving in Granada took place in a period of deep turbulence for Spain as a nation due to monarchal matters, losing the colonies in South America and the precarious conditions of rural life (Bertrand and Petrie 316-322). Very few of these situations surfaces extensively in the …show more content…

We are introduced to a new, but traditional space of culture where people`s natures unfold in front of our eyes: the inn. It is a place of gathering and also of the fantastic and mythical, often being associated with the entrance to a new world or time. As Dorsky explains in one of his essays on Irving, the latter relies heavily on visual images and minute descriptions in order to give the reader the impression that he is being a part of the action (232). The portrait of the hosts is an exact example of the affirmation above, since it is an in-depth account of their personality originating in their choice of clothes. Brother and sister, the innkeepers preserve something of the yore, “the bold, fiery spirit” (Irving 38) as we are informed, which pertains to the traditional Spanish behavior of a maja and, respectively a majo, a lower class person. An important fact to be noted is that no metaphors are used in the account of these two characters` appearance, the language is clear and although the words are most carefully chosen, to my mind the lexical field to which they belong enables the reader to enter the world of the text without any discomfort. Therefore the apparel, stylish and somewhat too ornate, represents a part of the traditional cultural heritage and through these meticulously created images of the people, Irving seeks to put an emphasis on the European-oriented side of their character. But how are these Spaniards still partly Moorish? For answering this questions, it is necessary that we should turn out attention to a passage from Thomas Bourke`s book of early 19th century about

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