Abusive fathers and royal incest in Lo Cunto de li cunti by Giambattista Basile A journey between a marvellous tale and hagiography

This article investigates a social theme ‒ incest in the nuclear family ‒ at the crossroads between the religious and the literary history, starting from tales of Giambattista Basile and the devotion to Saint Dymphne de Geel. In both cases, a narrative is developed around the abuse. Moreover, the fact that these stories are set in the space of the court makes it possible to reconnect with a strong archetypal dimension, as well as to question the tyrannical abuses of royal power.