Estudios de Teoría Literaria (Nov 2024)
Three versions of Saint Teresa in the 19th century press. Illness, spirituality and ideology
Abstract
This article studies the representation of Saint Teresa of Jesus in the Spanish press in the 19th century from a gender perspective. It analyses different descriptions of her diseases by different media, from medical interpretations that described her as hysteric to religious views that considered her a mystic. The research aims to reveal how these narratives reflect the socio-political and cultural tensions of the time, highlighting the influence of gender on the perception of illness and/or spirituality. It analyzes the way in which the figure of Saint Teresa was used to promote various ideological agendas, varying according to the medium and historical context.