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The Mayor of Zalamea: A Life, Dream, Great Theatre of the World

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Published in Calderon: Three Plays: The Mayor Of Zalamea Life S A Dream Great Theatre Of The World (Oberon Classics)

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The Mayor Of Zalamea By Pedro Calderon De La Barca Calderon: Three Plays: The Mayor Of Zalamea Life S A Dream Great Theatre Of The World (Oberon Classics)

Calderon: Three Plays: The Mayor of Zalamea; Life's a Dream; Great Theatre of the World (Oberon Classics)

by Ingersoll Lockwood

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	433 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	244 pages

The Mayor of Zalamea is a play by Pedro Calderon de la Barca, written in 1636. It is considered one of the masterpieces of Spanish Golden Age theater. The play tells the story of Pedro Crespo, the mayor of the town of Zalamea, who must defend his daughter's honor after she is raped by a captain in the Spanish army. The play explores themes of justice, honor, and the conflict between individual rights and the authority of the state.

Plot

The play is set in the town of Zalamea during the reign of Philip II of Spain. Pedro Crespo is the mayor of the town, and he is a man of great integrity and honor. His daughter, Isabel, is a beautiful young woman who is betrothed to Juan, a young man from a neighboring town. One day, a company of soldiers arrives in Zalamea, led by Captain Alvaro de Ataide. Ataide is a cruel and arrogant man, and he takes a liking to Isabel. He tries to force his attentions on her, but she resists. Ataide then rapes Isabel, and she is left pregnant.

Pedro Crespo is furious when he learns of his daughter's rape. He demands that Ataide be punished, but the captain is protected by his powerful friends. Crespo then decides to take matters into his own hands. He gathers a group of townspeople and they capture Ataide. Crespo then holds a trial, and Ataide is found guilty of rape. Crespo sentences Ataide to death, and he is executed.

Characters

Pedro Crespo: The mayor of Zalamea. He is a man of great integrity and honor, and he is determined to defend his daughter's honor.
Isabel: Crespo's daughter. She is a beautiful young woman who is betrothed to Juan.
Juan: Isabel's betrothed. He is a young man from a neighboring town.
Captain Alvaro de Ataide: The captain of the company of soldiers that arrives in Zalamea. He is a cruel and arrogant man, and he rapes Isabel.

Themes

The Mayor of Zalamea explores a number of themes, including:

Justice: The play raises questions about the nature of justice. Is it always the responsibility of the state to punish criminals, or can individuals take matters into their own hands?
Honor: Honor is a central theme in the play. The characters are all concerned with their honor, and they are willing to go to great lengths to defend it.
The conflict between individual rights and the authority of the state: The play also explores the conflict between individual rights and the authority of the state. Crespo believes that he has the right to punish Ataide for raping his daughter, even though Ataide is protected by the state.

Critical reception

The Mayor of Zalamea has been praised by critics for its powerful story, its well-developed characters, and its exploration of important themes. The play has been translated into many languages and it has been performed all over the world.

Oberon Classics

Oberon Classics is a publishing house that specializes in publishing classic works of literature. Oberon Classics has published a number of editions of The Mayor of Zalamea, including a paperback edition and an ebook edition. The Oberon Classics edition of The Mayor of Zalamea includes an by J. M. Cohen, and it is considered to be one of the best editions of the play available.

Calderon: Three Plays: The Mayor of Zalamea; Life's a Dream; Great Theatre of the World (Oberon Classics)

by Ingersoll Lockwood

5 out of 5