Masculinity In Marita De Erauso

When examining the narrative of Catalina de Erauso, violence, transgression, revenge, and aggression are very present and the reader is exposed to his perceptions of masculinity vs. femininity in the Spanish Baroque. The concept of a born female dressing or becoming male was a prevalent occurrence in the Golden Age of Spain, and can be seen in many other works of literature and plays. Lazarillo de Tormes allows the reader insight into elements of Baroque literature such as race, class, and survival. Both Lazarillo de Tormes and Catalina de Erauso are depictions of what it meant to be a man in the Golden Age of Spain. The way Erauso views masculinity directly correlates with his identity. His exposure to traditional gender roles is different because of the class he was born into. He came from nobility, where men and women had clear roles that were defined …show more content…
He has a family and all of her future ahead of him. For Erauso, that is not what good fortune is. His happiness and good fortune is based upon personal satisfaction. He knows that his life will never be easy or without struggle, but for Erauso, it is worthwhile. Erauso spends his life making everything harder for himself. He has a taste for revenge and seeks it out often dishonorably, “”This is the face you were thinking of cutting up,” and gave him a slash worth ten stitches (12).” He chooses to be in constant conflict rather than compromise his beliefs. Lazarillo is the opposite. He has a strong sense of pride especially when talking about his achievements, “I’ve made out so well in it, and used my post to such good effect, that virtually everything there is in that line of business goes through my hands now. So that all over the city if anybody has wine to sell, or anything else, unless Lazaro de Tormes attends to it they can make up their minds that it won’t show any profit to speak of (114-115).” Lazarillo does everything he can to make his life comfortable and