The eloquence of the King

Doctrinal aspects in two fictitious speeches by Ferrante in Aspetti dottrinali in due discorsi fittizi di Ferrante in “De bello Neapolitano” by Pontano

Abstract

The essay aims to demonstrate the role played by political doctrine in the historical narration of De bello Neapolitano by Pontano, in order to convey the pro-Aragonese stance of the author, outside the framework of official propaganda or literary praise. Most notably, the figure of the young King, Ferrante d’Aragona, takes on a heroic dimension heavily enhanced by the conscious use of political theory components. The communication strategies are therefore analyzed in two speeches, obviously fictitious, i.e. crafted by the author, which in the first book the King addresses to himself and to his soldiers respectively, in two critical moments of the story.