Tears for Fears: Alienation and Authority in the World of Benedict of Aniane
Frances Trzeciak|Rutger Kramer
In this article, we will take a closer look at the role played by depiction of weeping and tears in story conversion Benedict Aniane. According to his hagiography, Benedict, seen as one most important intellectuals Carolingian court late eighth early ninth century, started career secular aristocrat before undergoing an inner subsequently pursuing monastic lifestyle. As presented contemporary hagiographer Ardo, tears, rather than denoting any kind ‘abnormal’ behaviour, were among first external signs conversion. such, they should be analysed not only terms behaviour historical figure, but also narrative trope with many layers meaning that would have themselves audience familiar same traditions author Benedict’s vita. Rather simply emotionality protagonist, signalled author’s concerns about state world well, such way ‘normalising’ exoticising against broader backdrop culture century.
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