The mythical perversion in Lope de Aguirre: a psychoanalytic approach of Relación de la Jornada de Omagua y el Dorado by Pedrarias de Almesto

Abstract

The following article proposes a preliminary approach to the account of the expedition carried out by Lope de Aguirre from a psychoanalytic perspective, mainly focusing in the recently published manuscript by Álvaro Baraibar (2012) Relación de la Jornada de Omagua y el Dorado by Pedrarias de Almesto (1562). We propose read the account stressing the aspects related to “the law” and its many instances of transgressions, which will lead us to identify three psychoanalytic knots: the mythical resonances of the expedition, its perverse structuring and the accomplice witness’ role of Almesto himself. This will help us to establish a hypothesis on the wide-reaching and contradictory reception that this expedition has had for more than 400 years. In addition, it will help us connect this mythical account to the colonial roots of Latin America, even questioning some aspects of psychoanalytic theory.