Reading, analysing and decoding hidden discourses in literary texts: The heteronormativity and sexuality in the literature of al-Andalus

Resumen

The subject of this doctoral dissertation is the sexuality and the heteronormativity reflected in the literary work of Al-Andalus. Sexuality and the question of gender play a huge role in the Medieval Andalusian Society, thus they represent a fundamental element in the creation of the sexual rights and freedoms which later on will be transferred to the modern Spanish society. Sex and gender form an integral part of the aspiration for free expression of gender identities and consequently sexual affinities. The research conveyed on the elaboration of these issues is a crucial element in establishing the “sexual liberties” on a selected literary canon from the period. The questions in the text to follow tend to resolve the inconsistency and the unclearness of given Andalusian texts, with emphasis on The Ring of the Dove by Ibn Hazm of Cordoba, and the Quran itself as a paramount text in the Andalusian Islamic society. The texts themselves by their nature can be quite ambivalent and there is not enough clearness in respect of understanding them by a contemporary reader. Some of the factors that most often are misinterpreted are: the freedom of choosing a sexual partner, personal gender affiliation and identification, as well as the rights of women in religious and secular life. All these issues lead us to one very important question and that is: “Why of all places on Earth, one Medieval Islamic society in the heart of Europe is so important in determining gender and sexual rights and freedoms?” While an analysis was being carried out, a method of deduction was used in order to detect the issues related to sexuality and to its perception. Certain aspects in the literary works analysed were elaborated with the help of segments extracted from other authors who had contributed to postulating sex and gender as a main issue in respect of sexuality. All these indicators made us deduce that Al-Andalus was one of the biggest cultural medieval areas where the perception of sexuality was observed as an ordinary thing, accepted in all circles of the society without any major turbulences coming out of it. As a result, we have research which points out that even though throughout the Middle Ages Al-Andalus in its core was an Islamic society, and had its values and perception of the world based on the Quran, the sexuality was one of the most important drivers. With this being said, we conclude that as far as the literature is concerned, Al-Andalus represents not only a religious, cultural and artistic centre, but in the same time represents one of the biggest literary centres in the then known world, encompassing a huge amount of ethnical diversity. The obtained data from this research most certainly gives a fresh point of view and a new perspective on how the issues of gender and sex are transferred in the literature. Although there have been religious changes and restrictions after the fall of the Moorish kingdoms, they had left an incredibly powerful print mark on Iberia. As a result, in the posterior periods in the development of the Spanish culture and civilisation there is a general notion of sexual liberation. In conclusion, we have composed a new didactic material which will allow students to see the processes of sexuality, sexual and gender rights and freedoms as well as the rights of a woman in Al-Andalus from a different perspective. At the same time The Ring of the Dove will allow them to acquire the knowledge that rights of people to act in a certain way in society did not happen in the 19th century, but had existed long time ago. In addition, they will familiarize themselves with the fact that in the Medieval period art, science, culture and literature flourished in Al-Andalus, differently from the rest of the European countries which were shrouded in the veil of the Dark Middle Ages.