Abstract

In the epic tradition the notion of sacrifice to a higher goal often predominates in the plot. In the case of Mio Cid the reader is left to wonder why the hero remains loyal to the king who banishes him unjustly. The warrior retains the posture of persecuted victim, even as he grows powerful by conquest. The Cid patiently sues for redress, and accepts a reconciliatory marriage between his daughters and the nobility to implement the royal pardon. The cruel betrayal by the grooms, who beat their innocent brides, augments the indignity of his suffering.

We explain in our study how the Cid exhibits qualities of René Girard’s scapegoat; the noble warrior lord does not give in to vengeance and, instead, seeks retribution without displaying mimetic reciprocity. The difference between the Cid and his envious enemies outlines social injustice. While the nobility is debased by greed, the heroic dimension of the loyal Cid is magnified by humility. Our conclusion shows that self-sacrifice in the epic of Mio Cid projects an image of Christian resignation.

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