3.2 Salmo XVII, “Miré los muros de la patria mía”

Francisco de Quevedo (1580-1645) was a Spanish writer and poet of the Baroque era. He was one of the most prominent literary figures of his time and is known for his satirical works, including his famous novel "La vida del Buscón" ("The Life of the Swindler"), as well as his poetry. Quevedo was a man of contradictions, both admired and reviled by his contemporaries for his sharp wit and biting commentary on Spanish society and politics.

Salmo XVII was written during a time of great political and social upheaval in Spain. The country was in the midst of the Thirty Years' War, which had begun in 1618 and had a profound impact on the political and economic landscape of Europe. Spain was also grappling with its own internal conflicts, including tensions between the monarchy and the nobility, as well as religious conflicts between Catholics and Protestants. Against this backdrop, Quevedo wrote Salmo XVII, a poem that reflects the author's sense of disillusionment and despair with the state of his country.

Salmo XVII is considered one of the greatest poems of the Spanish Golden Age, and it is regarded as a masterpiece of Baroque literature. The poem reflects the complex and contradictory nature of the time, with its themes of disillusionment and despair reflecting the economic, political, and religious turmoil of the period. The poem's highly ornate style and use of rich imagery and symbolism also reflect the influence of the Baroque artistic movement, which sought to create highly elaborate and stylized works that expressed the complexity of human emotions and experiences.

There are no specific characters in the poem, but the speaker of the poem is assumed to be Quevedo himself.

Salmo XVII is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores themes of disillusionment, despair, and hopelessness. The poem is often interpreted as a reflection of Quevedo's sense of alienation from Spanish society and his disillusionment with the corrupt and decadent culture of his time. The walls and barriers that the speaker describes in the poem are symbolic of the divisions and obstacles that separate people from each other, and from their own sense of identity and purpose. The poem also contains religious themes, with the speaker seeking refuge and salvation from God in the face of the chaos and destruction of the world around him.

The use of symbolism in Salmo XVII is particularly significant in conveying the poem's themes. The walls and barriers that the speaker describes are a recurring motif throughout the poem. They represent the divisions and obstacles that separate individuals from each other and from their own sense of identity and purpose. For example, in the lines "Las torres altas soy de ver levantar / los ojos al camino por do suele / venir el bien que al alma desea", the walls and towers represent the societal barriers that prevent the speaker from attaining the spiritual and emotional fulfillment he desires.

The religious themes in the poem are also important. The speaker seeks refuge and salvation from God, and he often contrasts the fleeting nature of earthly pleasures with the eternal nature of spiritual fulfillment. For example, in the lines "En el Incendio de mi adversa suerte / sólo en el bien que espero está mi fuerte", the speaker acknowledges the chaotic and destructive nature of the world around him, but he also asserts his faith in God and the hope that he will find salvation.

The use of elaborate language and intricate imagery is also significant in Salmo XVII. The poem is written in a highly ornate and stylized style, with rich and detailed imagery that creates a sense of atmosphere and mood. For example, in the lines "Miré los muros de la patria mía, / si un tiempo fuertes, ya desmoronados, / de la carrera de la edad cansados", the imagery of the crumbling walls creates a sense of decay and decline, while the metaphor of the "carrera de la edad" (the race of time) conveys the speaker's sense of the transience of life and the inevitability of death.

Salmo XVII, also known as "Miré los muros de la patria mía," is a highly complex and multi-layered sonnet written by Francisco de Quevedo in the 17th century. The poem reflects the author's sense of alienation and despair towards Spanish society and the political and social turmoil of his time.

The poem begins with the speaker describing his surroundings, specifically the walls and barriers that surround him. The speaker feels trapped and confined within these walls, which are symbolic of the divisions and obstacles that separate people from each other and from their own sense of identity and purpose. The walls also represent the political and social barriers that prevent the speaker from achieving his goals and aspirations.

The speaker then laments the state of his country and the corruption and decadence that he sees around him. He expresses his disillusionment with Spanish society and his sense of alienation from its values and ideals. The speaker's tone is one of despair and hopelessness, as he feels powerless to effect any meaningful change in his society.

In the final lines of the sonnet, the speaker turns to God for refuge and salvation. He seeks divine intervention to overcome the chaos and destruction of the world around him. The poem ends on a note of spiritual hope, with the speaker placing his faith in God's mercy and love.

Overall, Salmo XVII is a powerful reflection of Quevedo's sense of disillusionment and despair towards Spanish society. The poem uses rich imagery and symbolism to convey the complexity of the speaker's emotions and thoughts. The themes of alienation, despair, and hopelessness are balanced by the speaker's faith in God and his hope for a better future.

Salmo XVII is a highly complex and multi-layered poem that explores themes of disillusionment, despair, and hopelessness. The poem is written in a highly elaborate and ornate style, with rich imagery and symbolism that reflects the complexity of the speaker's emotions and thoughts. The walls and barriers that the speaker describes in the poem are symbolic of the divisions and obstacles that separate people from each other and from their own sense of identity and purpose. The poem also contains religious themes, with the speaker seeking refuge and salvation from God in the face of the chaos and destruction of the world around him.