Lazarillo de Tormes and La Vida Es Sueño: Themes and Analysis
Lazarillo de Tormes: A Commentary
LAZARILLO_OPINION: This work by an unknown teacher has incalculable value. It shows the almost absolute rawness of life for people of low social standing at the time. It also judges the acts and habits of individuals with more power, leaving cruel evidence of their ‘living style.’ Lázaro, the protagonist, is a man battered by life and circumstances, resigned to his fate. He suffers hunger, abandonment, and humiliation, yet maintains a sense of serenity. At the time, this series of hardships was common.
Pedro Calderón de la Barca (1600-1681)
Pedro Calderón de la Barca, a Spanish playwright, was born and died in Madrid (1600-1681). At twenty-three, he premiered his first plays, which Lope de Vega praised. He studied in Madrid and Salamanca and later served as a soldier in Lombardy and Flanders. After Lope de Vega’s death, Felipe IV commissioned him for the Palace Theater. Already a famous writer, at fifty-one, he retired and was ordained a priest in Toledo. The king recalled him and appointed him his chaplain of honor. He died in Madrid (1681). He was a stern and aristocratic man with pessimistic views. Calderón belonged to the Baroque era and held traditional ideas. Along with Lope de Vega, he was a major exponent of comedy in his age.
La Vida Es Sueño: Themes and Argument
The main theme of the work is the conflict between free will and other factors (influence of the stars…).
There is also a rational side related to the development of will, which will make a decision in every conflict and lead to the victory of freedom.
Another basic theme of the Baroque mentality is honor.
Argument
Everything happens in Poland, where Rosaura and Clarín are searching for her father, who abandoned her and her mother.
Rosaura was dressed as a man in a tower where Sigismund was found. Sigismund speaks in a monologue about the freedom that has been taken from him. Rosaura identifies with him because she thought no one had suffered neglect like her.
Sigismund feels a sense of love for Rosaura, who is disguised as a man. Clotaldo recognizes Rosaura as his daughter and reveals that he had a sword that he had left with her mother because he was ashamed of her. Clotaldo wants to kill them to keep the secret. Astolfo and Estrella discover that King Basilio has no heir to the throne of Poland for his own interests. Basilio states that he had a son but was told that the stars foretold he would be a cruel king who would lead Poland to disaster.
Sigismund’s mother died during his birth, and the king imprisoned his son in the tower.
Once Sigismund knows the secret, he escapes. Clotaldo tries to kill his daughter, but he still believes she is a man.
At the palace, the king takes his son, Sigismund, to show him the palace and observe his actions.
Sigismund abuses his power, triggering situations of concern.
At the end, Sigismund returns to the tower and wakes up thinking it was all just a dream.
The people of Poland want the prince released to be king of Poland and not a foreigner like Astolfo.
A conflict develops between the army of Basilio and Sigismund’s followers, who ultimately win. The fighting claims the life of Clarín.
We learn that Rosaura was always a woman in disguise, and the romance between Rosaura and Astolfo is resolved.
Rosaura explains the reasons for her revenge to Clotaldo and Sigismund.
In the end, Rosaura forgives her father, Clotaldo, and Sigismund finally proves to be a good king.