Vega Drama Selection

Author: (Spanish) Vega (Vega/L.d.) / Hu Zhencai / Lü Chenzhong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-02-01
Features: This library aims to compile the essence of world literary creation, comprehensively reflecting the highest achievements of world literature, including that of China, and providing readers with world-class literary masterpieces. It focuses on long novels that represent the literary achievements of an era as its core, while also fully showcasing the outstanding achievements in various genres such as short stories, poetry, essays, drama, fairy tales, and fables. The selection period for foreign literature extends from the heroic epics of ancient times to the end of World War II; for Chinese literature, it spans from the Book of Songs to the founding of the People's Republic of China. It is a precious literary system that encompasses both ancient and modern works, as well as literature from all over the world. The five plays included in this book are representative works in several major genres. The Shekinah of Yanguan Town is its masterpiece, drawing from a real story in the mid-15th century. The farmers of Yanguan Town are simple and kind, hoping for a peaceful and happy life. However, the knightly order stationed in the town abuses their power, expanding their influence externally and opposing national unity internally. They oppress the people, act arrogantly, and disrupt the residents' normal lives. The military commander of the knightly order, Gomez, attempts to seduce the mayor's daughter, Lorenza, several times but fails. Enraged, he abducts her and her husband on their wedding night. This incites great outrage among the townspeople, who arm themselves and storm the castle, killing the commander and his subordinates. The king sends a judge to interrogate the residents, who are tortured severely to reveal who killed the commander. Their only answer is: "It was the people of Yanguan Town who did it." In the end, the king personally interrogates them and is moved by their heroic spirit, pardoning the entire town and placing Yanguan Town under royal jurisdiction. The playwright intertwines the peasant uprising against feudal oppression with the knightly aristocratic rebellion that obstructs national unity, thereby broadening the social and political significance of the play and deepening its thematic ideas. The main feature of the play lies in the fact that the playwright does not portray the peasants as ignorant mobs but shapes them into a heroic collective—a rare occurrence in 17th-century European literature. The Star of Seville is also a historical play. King Don Sancho visits Seville and meets the beautiful girl Estrella, known as the "Star of Seville." He bribes her maid to sneak into her bedroom at night, only to find her brother Bustos returning home at that moment, leading to a near-fatal confrontation. The humiliated king immediately orders a brave man, Ortiz, to kill a "guilty person." Ortiz, after taking an oath, discovers that the target is actually his fiancée, Estrella's brother, Bustos. Faced with the choice between loyalty to the king and loyalty to love, he ultimately chooses the former, is imprisoned for murder, but refuses to reveal the truth even to the death. Later, the king admits that he is the real culprit, and Ortiz is released, but this happy marriage is ruined unjustly. In the play, the author directs sharp criticism at the lustful and cunning king but also makes him admit his guilt, attempting to portray an ideal ruler. The Knight of Olmedo is a tragic love story where a hero dies due to his love. In this play, the king is depicted as the embodiment of justice. This is because, during the liberation movement to expel foreign invaders and reclaim lost lands, the feudal aristocracy was a common enemy of both the king and the people. The unification of the country and the elimination of separatism were in the interests of the people, and thus the king's role in this regard was also supported by the people. The Foolish Girl and The Madrid Spring Water are two farces centered around love entanglements. The Foolish Girl is a farce in the style of sister-swapping. The clever and lively Nise and the foolish Fina are sisters. Fina, though foolish, inherits a legacy from her uncle to bring as a dowry. Fina's fiancé, Liseo, is deeply disappointed by her simplicity and decides to break off the engagement, falling in love with Nise instead. Meanwhile, Nise's fiancé, Laurence, being poor, is very willing to marry the wealthy Fina. Later, Laurence's plan backfires, and he genuinely falls in love with Fina, who, in turn, is awakened by true love and becomes clever and lively. In the end, "the foolish girl" marries the man who truly loves her, Laurence, while Liseo marries Nise.