The book El "Cantar de Mio Cid" y la épica medieval española by Alan Deyermond, at page 37, mentions
el simbolismo de la barba del Cid
that is, "the symbolism of the Cid's beard", but such a symbol is not explained. I know that the author of the poem mention several times the long beard of the Cid, but I don't know what's the symbolism conveyed in such kind of expressions. It has maybe something to do with maturity? Could anyone explain it?
In this section, Deyermond is discussing the different types of imagery that appear in El Cantar, and saying that the most important class is of “narrative elements that also have a symbolic function”, citing as examples the dawn (el amanecer) and the Cid’s beard (la barba del Cid). Deyermond gives a few examples of how the dawn is used as a symbolic image, but unfortunately does not provide a similar discussion for the beard.
A man’s beard is typically a symbol of power and virility, since a young callow man is not able to grow a beard1. The first mention of the Cid’s beard emphasises its two key properties, “[una] noble barba tan crecida” (“a long noble beard”) - its size being an indication of his nobility - and throughout the work the beard is is used as an oblique way of praising him. On several occasions he is called “el del la barba crecida” (“he of the long beard”) and variations on this, instead of being called by his name.
The Cantar opens with the Cid being banished by the king on charges trumped up by his enemies. As he works to regain his position and clear his name by battling the Moors, his beard grows, paralleling his development as a hero. When he achieves the great military victory of capturing Valencia, the Cid swears an oath that he will not allow his beard to be trimmed until he has regained royal favor. From Ormsby’s translation:
Now was the beard of my Cid growing great and increasing in length [i.e. the Cid is regaining his honor], and said he, 'For the love of King Alfonso who hath banished me neither shall scissors come near it, nor a hair of it be plucked, and it shall be famous among Moors and Christians.'
Following his military success, the Cid was indeed recalled to the court, and again the beard is used to symbolise his increased status:
That day my Cid Ruy Diaz was the guest of the king, who could not satisfy himself in showing him affection, ever gazing on his beard, which had grown so mighty
As a mark of favour, the king asked the Cid to marry his daughters to the princes (Infantes) of Carrión. All went well for a while, but when the princes were humiliated in front of the Cid by fleeing from an escaped lion, they vowed to take revenge on him and had their wives whipped and left behind in the forest for wild beasts to devour them. The women were rescued, however, and the news of their mistreatment was brought to the Cid:
when [the tidings] were told to my Cid, he thought and pondered a full hour: and he raised his hand and grasped his beard, saying, 'Christ be thanked, since the Infantes of Carrión have done me such honour. By this beard that none hath reaped, the Infantes of Carrión shall not profit by this, and well shall I marry my daughters.'
So the Cid swears an oath on his beard to take revenge on the Infantes and to secure more worthy matches for his daughters. As with the previous oath it is emphasised that the beard has never been sullied, paralleling the fact that the Cid’s honor has never been besmirched. He requests the king to summon the Infantes to court, and dresses very particularly to confront them, with special care for his beard:
Long was the beard he bore, and he bound it with a cord, so doing because he would fain preserve it ; and over all he threw a mantle of great price… My Cid seated himself upon a couch, and the hundred who guarded him placed themselves around him ; and all that were in the court were gazing at my Cid and at the long beard he bore bound in a cord. In his port he looked a true baron, but for shame the Infantes of Carrion could not look upon him.
A commentary notes that “The Cid is especially interested in protecting his hair and covers it with his cap so that it cannot be pulled out, just as he holds his beard with a cord so that no one can pull it out. The beard thus tied back was a warlike gesture, like a challenge to all the enemies the Cid had in the courts”. In this carefully orchestrated performance he demands redress from the Infantes. They, being cowards, do not dare to reply, or even to look at him, but the Cid’s arch-enemy, the Count García Ordóñez stands up, criticising the Cid for coming to court in a “strange guise” and a “long, straggling beard”. The Cid responds:
A long and lordly growth it is, my pleasure and my pride
In this my beard, Garcia, say, what find you to deride?
Its nurture since it graced my chin hath ever been my care
No son of woman born hath dared to lay a finger there
No son of Christian or of Moor hath ever plucked a hair.
Remember [the battle of] Cabra, Count! of thine the same thou canst not say
On both thy castle and thy beard I laid my hand that day
Nay ! not a groom was there but he his handful plucked away.
Look, where my hand hath been, my lords, all ragged yet it grows!
That is, the Cid’s beard is unsullied, but Garcia’s beard reflects his lack of honor - the Cid pulled out a hair of it years ago, and it remains ragged and unkempt.
The king permits the Cid to decide the matter by combat, he and his champions against the Infantes, At that moment two envoys arrive, asking for the Cid’s daughters in marriage to the princes of Navarre and Aragon. His work completed, the Cid releases his beard:
Then the Campeador (Champion) took off his coif, and removed the cord and released his beard; nor could all they that were in the court refrain from gazing on him.
In summary, the beard of the Cid is used as a symbol for honor and virtue. Within the narrative he swears an oath to not cut it, and its growth parallels his development as a hero as he sets about recovering his position. The beard also serves as a touchstone - worthy people gaze at it enraptured, while the unworthy cannot bear to look at it. It contrasts with the beard of Count García, whose lack of morals is indicated by its raggedness.
1. An old man may also be described as having a long beard to represent wisdom, but that is not the case of the Cid - he is active and physical, not an aged man of high learning.
