Themes of Socio-Political Activism in the Works of Miguel de Cervantes.

Although it is difficult to assign clear images of social activism in the works of Miguel de Cervantes, his narrative and theater texts promote distinctive messages of longing for social justice. Considering the themes in most of his works, did Cervantes approve of the political environment of his time and sought to represent this fact in his works, or did he clearly feel the moral obligation of allying himself with the powerless and the downtrodden, utilizing his literary expression as a form of resistance against the political and social practices of his time? Considering also the dangers of subversion, Cervantes had to conceal his messages behind images and speech that represent different aspects of inconformity. The Cervantes Society of America at SAMLA is interested in papers that examine ways in which Miguel de Cervantes’s works could be identified as documents of socio-political activism. Please submit by e-mail a 200-word abstract, brief bio, and A/V requirements by May 31, 2018 to the chair Rosa Maria Stoops (stoopsrm@montevallo.edu)