Eighteenth-century Didactics: Creating Stereotypes

Abstract

[Abstract]The present article deals with the stereotypical portrayal of Spain and Spaniards from the point of view of eighteenth-century English-speakers. For this purpose, the contributions published in a monthly journal for young people are examined to show how preconceived ideas are perpetuated as a result of conflicts between Spain and Britain over the centuries, and how anecdotes are exaggerated and used in order to justify opinions about and assign negative characteristics to the Other. Although the eighteenth-century journal in question was intended as a way of educating young ladies and gentleman, introducing them to articles on botany, astronomy, mathematics, geography or philosophy, its didactic objective, one of the aims of the Enlightenment, appears to fail on the question of Anglo-Spanish relations, which for the previous three centuries had included wars, disputes, religious differences, and attempted invasions. In contrast, those countries with which Britain enjoyed good relations are reflected in a positive light in the journal. The negative anecdotes concerning the Spanish are based on historically distant and questionable sources, but the journal presents them as faithful accounts of the oddities, and lack of cultural development of the Spanish, whose major defect is, according to the author, excessive pride. The claims made and sources used are analysed and assessed in the context of historical events and the ensuing bilateral relations.