A Tópica do Deserto nas Cartas de São Jerônimo

Topic of the Desert in the Letters of Saint Jerome

Abstract

This work addresses the place that the desert and its representations occupied in some correspondences of Jerome of Stridon. A master of all literary crafts, recognized in life and even after his death, for his translations, biblical commentaries, and a collection of letters. Jerome became a kind of guide for specific groups of roman society in the 4th century. From his letters, the topic of the desert will be presented here as occupying a prominent place. This work uses the methodology of discourse analysis associated with Cultural History to achieve this intention. Therefore, considering the christianized paideia in the 4th century, the desert revealed itself in Jerome’s letters, both a symbol of prestige and social status for the christian elites and a space of authenticity and legitimation of intellectual and spiritual authority, standing out as the ideal environment for the formation and demonstration of virtues.