Esperanza's Silver Hair in Cervantes's <i>La tía fingida</i>

It is quite unusual for a female protagonist in an early modern Spanish novella to have silver hair. However, Esperanza is described as having “cabellos plateados.” This article examines two questions: whether silver hair dye existed in Cervantes's time and why Esperanza was given such a peculiar physical trait. Beauty manuals from the period reveal that blonde was the most popular color among women, and Cervantes often associates golden hair with his female characters. In literature, golden hair typically symbolizes both physical attractiveness and inner virtues such as virginity. In this study, silver hair is examined as a source of insight into Esperanza's non-virgin status and her radical transition from a prostitute to a commendable wife.