Description

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King Basilio, fearful by what the stars announce to him about his son Sigismund, locks him up in a tower apart from the rest of the men. For years, Clotaldo, his guardian, will be his only company. When a long time later the king makes him return to the palace, Sigismund's anger causes chaos and a new condemnation of the king ..., but the people will intervene, acclaiming the freedom of Sigismund against Basilio's will. Life is a dream can be presented without hesitation as one of the most representative works of Spanish literature and, without a doubt, as the masterpiece of Calderón de la Barca, clergyman and humanist, who knew how to answer the dilemma between predestination and free will, one of the essential themes of baroque thought.
 

About the Author

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Pedro Calderón de la Barca is considered an outstanding playwright of the Spanish Golden Age. He wrote in many genres including comedies and praises. In his time, baroque trends had reached the fullness of their development, and he makes valuable use of them, being one of the greatest exponents of this style. His play Life is a dream, released in 1635 and published in 1636, is considered a paradigmatic work of Spanish Baroque theater. With Calderón, stage design and music became very important, its purpose was to give rise to a show that united various arts. Other of his works are The duende lady, A secret grievance, secret revenge  and The mayor of Zalamea.