An Approach to the Letters of Relation by Pedro de Alvarado: Textual Criticism Problems and Chivalric Discourse

Abstract

The two letters of relation by Pedro de Alvarado exemplary depict the voice of one of the main protagonists of the “conquista” and, in particular, the legitimized discourse of the conquest or invasion of Central America. However, the little interest that they have aroused in colonial studies is surprising. Thus, this work proposes a first detailed approach to both writings from a double perspective: textual criticism and discursive analysis. In the first part, after a succinct examination of the state of the matter, I study the textual problem that derives from the lack of attention to these letters, placing emphasis, above all, on questions of textual criticism. In the second part, the analysis focuses on elucidating the main discursive features of the two texts, based upon the notion of autor semiculto (‘semi-learned author) introduced by Italian linguistics, as well as upon the concept of “chivalric discourse,” as it has been elaborated by José Antonio Mazzotti from Rolena Adorno’s reflections. The final goal is to highlight the importance of these two texts in the colonial corpus and the need for a critical edition that would do them justice.