Count and Counselor
The frame narrative of El Conde Lucanor represents more than a simple storytelling device. It is a pedagogical tool that mirrors the feudal hierarchy. Count Lucanor brings a problem to Patronio, his advisor, who responds not with a direct answer, but with an enxemplo4. This indirect method of instruction forces the reader (and the Count) to engage in literal and allegorical interpretation.
This structure allows Don Juan Manuel to address controversial topics under the guise of fiction. By placing advice in the mouth of Patronio, the author maintains a layer of distance between himself and the potentially risky political advice he offers to his peers5.
The Structure of the Enxemplo
Each tale follows a rigid four-part structure: the Count's dilemma, Patronio's story, the application of the moral, and a final verse (rhymed couplet) summarizing the lesson. This formal stability reflects the author's belief in an ordered, predictable universe where wisdom can be codified and applied consistently.