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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 3 page essay that analyzes the Hispanic folk tale “Dona Sebastiana.” As pointed out by G.M. Padilla in the introduction to this story, this tale is a “cuentos morales (morality tale),” whose purpose is to “instill a complex religio-social sensibility in young listeners” (Padilla 1501). The purpose of the story is to convey a sense of fatalistic acceptance of the reality and justice of death, as death is the great equalizer, coming to all within the course of time. Furthermore, the story addresses issues of hypocrisy and also social justice. No bibliography is offered.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khdonas.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
this tale is a "cuentos morales (morality tale)," whose purpose is to "instill a complex religio-social sensibility in young listeners" (Padilla 1501). The purpose of the story is to convey
a sense of fatalistic acceptance of the reality and justice of death, as death is the great equalizer, coming to all within the course of time. Furthermore, the story addresses
issues of hypocrisy and also social justice. The story concerns a poor woodcutter, whose ability to make a living depends on the willingness of the people in his village
to buy the wood that he cuts from the "common land of the land grant" (1502). When he cannot find a buyer for his wood, his family starves. Compelled by
hunger, he takes one of his wifes sitting hens and makes his way to the mountains in order to have a private feast. Three personages come to his campsite and
ask to share his meal. The first two are Jesus and the Virgin Mary. The woodcutter refuses them both, explaining that they are unfair because they "neglect the poor.
You give everything to the rich and so little to the poor. You dont treat us equally" (1502). Padilla points out in the introduction that this is an extraordinary chastisement,
which "comprises a stunning class-conscious critique of Christian hypocrisy and the Churchs complicity with the rich" (Padilla 1501). A third person approaches the woodcutters fire. This is Dona Sebastiana, the
personification of death. The woodcutter agrees to share his meal with her because she is fair, that is, she treats all walks of life equally, as death comes to everyone.
Death is pleased with the woodcutter and grants him the gift of healing; however, he is warned never to attempt to heal when he sees Dona Sebastiana at the
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