The essay examines the works by Juan Ignacio Molina (1740-1829), a Chilean Jesuit who settled in Bologna in 1774, and specifically the Saggio sulla storia civile del Cile (1787). In spite of its opening claim of impartiality and objectivity, the Saggio soon turns into the extolment of the military and civic virtues of the Araucans, who are celebrated as an example of what a population – albeit small – is able to do while fighting to preserve its own freedom. Molina outlines the whole history of Chile (a history in which – as he writes – «wars only are a topic deserving attention») to corroborate this final argument, which sounds as an auspice, a hope, and an encouragement. It is well known that Molina would subsequently come out for the independence of his far-and-away motherland, to which he had made an early contribution of his own from his Italian exile. Notwithstanding the different historical events to which Molina referred, he performed an operation that was to a certain extent analogous to what such fellow brothers of his as Juan de Velasco e Francisco Clavijero did. Like them, Molina dignified the native peoples, whom he regarded as the most authentic expression of his fellow countrymen’ inner character. It is worth pointing out that the most effective statements – such as those that, for instance, include the words “freedom” and “independence” – were left out in the 1795 Spanish translation. These omissions can account for the speed by which, unlike the writings of other Jesuits, Molina’s work cleared censorship and was published in Spain.

Le "Storie americane" dei gesuiti espulsi: Juan Ignacio Molina tra amore per la verità  e passione per la patria cilena

CHIARAMONTI, GABRIELLA
2010

Abstract

The essay examines the works by Juan Ignacio Molina (1740-1829), a Chilean Jesuit who settled in Bologna in 1774, and specifically the Saggio sulla storia civile del Cile (1787). In spite of its opening claim of impartiality and objectivity, the Saggio soon turns into the extolment of the military and civic virtues of the Araucans, who are celebrated as an example of what a population – albeit small – is able to do while fighting to preserve its own freedom. Molina outlines the whole history of Chile (a history in which – as he writes – «wars only are a topic deserving attention») to corroborate this final argument, which sounds as an auspice, a hope, and an encouragement. It is well known that Molina would subsequently come out for the independence of his far-and-away motherland, to which he had made an early contribution of his own from his Italian exile. Notwithstanding the different historical events to which Molina referred, he performed an operation that was to a certain extent analogous to what such fellow brothers of his as Juan de Velasco e Francisco Clavijero did. Like them, Molina dignified the native peoples, whom he regarded as the most authentic expression of his fellow countrymen’ inner character. It is worth pointing out that the most effective statements – such as those that, for instance, include the words “freedom” and “independence” – were left out in the 1795 Spanish translation. These omissions can account for the speed by which, unlike the writings of other Jesuits, Molina’s work cleared censorship and was published in Spain.
2010
La presenza in Italia dei gesuiti iberici espulsi. Aspetti religiosi, politici, culturali
9788849134278
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11577/2418979
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact