Rinconete y Cortadillo
References and translations
The description of Monipodio in a rage links up with his introductory verbal portrait, which showed us a choleric man. The term choleric is drawn from the theory of the four temperaments, which was still a fundamental part of Renaissance medicine and characterology. Monipodio's appearance (his robust body, hairy chest etc) correspond to such a temperament, and here it is confirmed in the outburst of rage, i.e. in his emotional behaviour. In this kind of incident, we see Cervantes' comment on the nature of this underworld, ruled by an ignorant, clumsy fellow who is prone to extreme shifts of mood