Sobre el dramaturgo y la
obra
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Spain,
1600-1681
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Catholic/Jesuit
influence
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One of Spain’s most famous playwrights –
alongside Lope de Vega
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First published in 1635 (or possibly early in
1636), it is a philosophical allegory regarding the human situation and the
mystery of life. Focusing on the fictional Segismundo, Prince of Poland, the
play has as its central theme the conflict between free will and fate. The play
remains one of Calderón's best-known and most studied works.
Characters
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Rosaura – appears on scene dressed as a man,
later she disguises herself as Estrella’s servant; she wants revenge from
Astolfo
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Clarín – Rosaura’s servant
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Segismundo – king’s son; has lived imprisoned in
the tower due to king
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Clotaldo – Rosaura’s father; has raised
Segismundo
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King Basilio – old and wise king; Segismundo’s
father; believes in astrology and predestination and decided to imprison
Segismundo
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Astolfo – Duke, the named heir of the king; is
set to marry Estrella but dishonored Rosaura
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Estrella – other named heir of the king, is
going to marry Astolfo
Relationships between the characters
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Rosaura was the lover of Astolfo.
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Estrella is the current lover of Astolfo.
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Rosaura is Clotaldo’s daughter.
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Clotaldo is loyal to the king even though he has
raised Segismundo.
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Segismundo was interested in Rosaura, but he
eventually marries Estrella.
Themes / Main ideas
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Truth vs. Appearances/lies/deceit/duplicity
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Rosaura’s dress as a man, later disguise as a
servant
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Basilio’s lie that Segismundo died at birth
o
Basilio tests Segismundo
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Dream vs. reality
o
Connection of dream with conversion/change
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Free will (Catholics) vs.
Predestination/Predetermination (Protestants)
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Free will – Segismundo can be a good king
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Predestination – Segismundo will be a bad and
violent king due to astrology
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Violence
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Betrayal vs. loyalty
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Clotaldo betrays Segismundo
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Clotaldo betrays Rosaura
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Segismundo betrays the king
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Questions of loyalty – are the people loyal to
the law or to the king?
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Honor
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Lesson for the audience
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There are consequences for everything we do
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Shouldn’t rebel against authority
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“hay
libertad en la vida – confianza que todo será como debe al final..
predestinación”
Very brief summary
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First Act: Rosaura arrives on the scene.
Introduction of Segismundo in the tower and of Clotaldo as Rosaura’s father.
The king Basilio wants Segismundo to be prince for a day (to prove that he is a
violent monster).
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Second Act: Segismundo has his day as prince and
is very violent; his whims are law. He kills a servant and tries to rape
Rosaura.
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Third Act: The people rebel against the king
with Segismundo; Segismundo has to enact justice against the people.
More detailed summary
Act I
King Basilio of Poland has kept his son, Prince Segismundo,
secretly imprisoned since birth, telling his subjects that the prince died in
childbirth. The reason is that the king, who is an erudite of astrology, has
accepted the prophesy of an oracle that the prince would bring disaster to the
country and to King Basilio himself. Telling his subjects that the boy died
soon after birth, the king has keep him hidden in a tower under the guard of
his advisor, Clotaldo. Now Segismundo has grown up. Rosaura, a lady of noble
birth, arrives as an attendant of Princess Estrella, the king's niece.
Disguised as a man of war, she and her companion, Clarion, stumble across
Segismundo's prison tower. They converse with him, mentioning that they seek
revenge. The prince confesses that he, too, thinks of revenge. Clotaldo arrives
and, recognizing that Rosaura's sword belongs to someone to whom he owes a
favor, he guarantees safe passage for her to Warsaw.
Act II
The King wishes to reveal his son as rightful heir to the
throne to test if the predictions were right or there is a chance that
Segismundo could be a good king. The King has Segismundo drugged and taken to
the palace so that, if Segismundo does not pass the test, he can be taken back
to his prison and could be persuaded that it was all a dream. The Prince is
brought to court, told about his royal heritage, and presented with royal
power. He meets his cousin, Astolfo, the Duke of Muscovy, and their cousin,
Princess Estrella, finding an instant attraction to the latter. Seeing his
father and jailor, however, makes him violent, and he rages like a tyrant,
killing a servant; attempting to rape Rosaura; injuring the King's advisor,
Clotaldo, when he comes to help his daughter; and involving himself in a sword
fight with Astolfo. Horrified and certain of the truthfulness of the dire
prophecy, the King has Segismundo drugged again and returned to his tower
prison. With Segismundo out of the picture, the king allows Astolfo to court
Estrella, since with their union they would share the succession to the throne
instead of competing for it. Astolfo recognizes Rosaura (who is going by the
name Astrea), whom he abandoned to try to gain the Polish crown, and they break
off their relationship for good. Upon waking, Segismundo mourns, convinced by
Clotaldo that the previous day's events had been nothing more than a dream.
Segismundo declares: "All of life is but a dream,/And dreams are only
dreams."
Act III
While he remains oblivious in his cell, Rosaura alerts the
people that they have a prince, and many rebel, breaking him out of his prison
tower, although at first comically mistaking Rosaura's companion, Clarion, for
the prince. Though Segismundo rejoices, he cannot be sure whether this new
development is, in fact, reality or still just a dream. Segismundo allows the
king and Cotaldo their freedom. Rosaura wants to kill Astolfo, telling her
reasons first to her father and then to Segismundo. The rebels persist on
behalf of the prince, and the King raises an army of the people. The rebels defeat
the King, and when the two encounter each other face to face, Basilio throws
himself at his son’s feet, expecting the parricidal prophecy to be fulfilled.
Instead of killing him, Segismundo forgives him. In light of the generous
attitude of the Prince, the King proclaims Segismundo heir to his throne after
all. As King, Segismundo decides that Astolfo must keep his promise to marry
Rosaura to preserve her honor. At first Astolfo is hesitant because she is not
of noble birth, but when Clotaldo publicly reveals that she is his daughter,
Astolfo consents. Segismundo then claims Estrella in marriage himself.
Segismundo resolves to live by the motto that "God is God,"
acknowledging that, whether asleep or awake, one must strive for goodness.
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