The Song Of The Cid Analysis

The Song of the Cid was composed during a time of major change and chaos. Christian rulers were compelled to reclaim previous Christian lands in Spain from the Muslims. Through these proceedings, the relationships between Christians, Jews, and Muslims were tested in order to maintain set social boundaries. These social boundaries, however, were not absolute in reality as depicted in The Song of the Cid. Instead, Jews and Muslims present more a of a caricature view in The Song of the Cid. In this essay, I am going to examine how Jews and Muslims were presented in The Song of the Cid, and contrast those views with how Jews and Muslims actually interacted with Christians in this period. While the author of The Song of the Cid included a number …show more content…
Although the text does not specifically describe the characters as Jewish, they are described as "weighing and counting gold and silver, business was good." This depiction fits the caricature of a Jewish moneychanger. When faced with money issues, El Cid is forced to seek out moneychangers to "pawn it at some fair price. Tell them to come and take it at night, so Christians can 't spy." By referencing Christians spying, the text hints that this was a taboo practice. It also highlights how the individuals they are seeking out are not Christians. Moneychangers had a bad reputation among Christians, as they were associated with Jews from the Old Testament. This job associated Jews underscored how they were no longer the chosen people, as Jesus drove them out of the temple. Old Testament Jews are also included in The Song of the Cid when they reference how the Jews raised Jesus on the cross. A Christian audience hearing this story would have little sympathy for Raguel and Vidas, as they were juxtaposed with Old Testament Jews. This could be why payment was never resolved with them, even though they beg saying, "Mercy, Minaya, O worthy knight! My Cid will destroy us, truly he will, if he doesn 't pay on …show more content…
Muslims are presented as being both the enemy, but also as a valued friends. The vast majority of the Moors represented in the text are only present to show how strong and powerful El Cid is. Thousands of Moors are introduced to combat El Cid, as he conquered Muslim territory along the fringe. These Moors are presented in a negative light. When El Cid 's band of soldiers enters the fringe they are leaving "Christian-clean lands." Muslims territory, therefore, would have been considered dirty to these individuals, and must be conquered in order to make the land clean again. The Moors also are depicted as driven by wealth. When El Cid is attempting to conquer Alcocer, "the Moors shouted, 'Look! Our gold is running away! ' Little and large, they came dashing through the gates, gold dust in their eyes and nothing else in their minds." Greed becomes this groups undoing, as they cannot focus on anything else. This presentation of the Moors character also offsets how virtuous El Cid 's Christian soldiers are, as gold is just a reward for their good works of ousting the Muslims from the fringe. These good Christian habits are later reflected on the Moors who remained in Alcocer, as they lamented his departure: 'My Cid, you 're leaving us! Our prayers will always precede you! We 're deeply satisfied, our lord, with all you 've done. '" This change in demeanor of the people reflects how the Moors were