Abstract

This doctoral thesis is a comparative study on two themes, "hombre de carne y hueso" and Christ, Man-God, which recur in the literary, philosophical and religious works of Miguel de Unamuno and Giovanni Papini . "Hombre de carne y hueso is the term Unamuno uses to define the human being who, once born, is nurtured, develops, thinks, suffers, loves, and dies. Although Papini does not employ this terminology, he basically adheres to the same concept. ;The study demonstrates the similarities and differences of opinion of the two authors on the essence of the human being. In addition, the study reveals how their deep interest in the human condition leads the writers to confront the question of Christ, Man-God, that is the person who, according to Catholic doctrine, has two natures and two wills: human and divine. Both themes are present in the works of these two authors, though each expresses them in his own way and arrives at different conclusions. ;The study consists of 6 chapters. Chapter 1 is the Introduction. Chapter 2 is an historic overview of the period in which both writers lived. Chapter 3 offers a general sketch of the authors as philosophers, novelists, essayists, and poets, and the relationship between the two through correspondence. Chapter 4 explains the theme of "hombre de carne y hueso" as it appears in their works with reference to principal human activities--biological, sensory, intellectual, volitive, and spiritual--,to problems and conflicts, and to the defects as well as the virtues of modern man and woman. Chapter 5 discusses the figure of Christ, Man-God, in several works by each author. To explain the theme of Christ, Man-God, the Catholic Church's position will be used to define Christological dogma on the two natures of Christ. Chapter 6, the conclusion of the study aims to demonstrate the similarities and differences between Unamuno and Papini--two writers from the same period--both of whom considered the condition of humankind and examined the essence of Christ