Lacrimae & Luminos. "The Honest Criminal" (1773), of Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos

Abstract

The paper deals whit análisis of the pay by Jovellanos entitled ‘The Honest Criminal’. This work presents an experimental and innovative character in Spain as the first example of what is known as ‘Sentimental comedy’ or Low tragedy’. That same trait of novelty is present in the treatment of legal matter serves the dramatic action, producing an early involvement of Law and Literature. Thus, Jovellanos used theatricality and staging resources to show a debate between two models of justices who in turn represent two opposig legal paradigs but synchronous durig the last third of eighteenth century; Old Law v. Enlightened Law. The paper examines the universe of law books in the scene are identify respectively with the normative, judicial and legal dogmatic conditions underlying ideological conflict.