Blog Post #3: Life is a Dream

Act II. Lines 229-248

ASTOFLO: Blessed the day, a thousand times, my prince, 

on which you landed here on Polish soil

To fill with so much splendor and delight

Our wide horizons, like the break of day!

For you arise as does the ring sun

Out of the rugged mountains, far away.

Shine forth then! And although so tardily

You bind the glittering laurels on your brows,

The longer may they last you still unwithered.

SEGISMUND: God save you.

ASTOLFO: That you do not know me, sir,

Is some excuse for greeting me without

The honour due to me. I am Astolfo The Duke of Moscovy. You are my sin

We are of equal rank.

SEGISMUND: Then if I say,

“God save you,” do I not display such a feeling?

But since you take such not of who you are,

The next time I see you, I shall say

“God save you not,” if you would like that better.

SECOND SERVANT: (To Astolfo.) Your Highness, make 

allowance for his breeding 

Amongst the mountains. So he deals with all.

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The passage above, Segismund’s first interaction with Astolfo in the royal castle, lays the foundation for Segismund’s future troubles in the royal castle. After waking up in the castle and having just been told that he is the heir to the throne of Poland by Clotaldo, Segismund’s initial animosity towards Astolfo develops quickly for many reasons. In this text, Segismund’s characterization is further developed as well the importance of setting on determining character in the drama. Pedro Calderon de la Barca purposefully characterizes Segismund first as an irrational and stupid man to later emphasize the theme of goodness in all people. The influence of setting in this passage aids in this characterization.

Less abstractly, Segismund is illustrated an unintelligent brute, rather than as a normal human being. To begin, Segismund mocks his cousin despite his royal heritage and nobility. Then the servant tries to pardon Segismund saying “his breeding is Amongst the mountains. So he deals with all.” (II. 247-248). By exposing further Segismund’s flaws of feeblemindedness and confusion, Calderon establishes Segismund’s characterization on a basic level. But, on a deeper level, Calderon associates these flaws with the setting of Segismund’s upbringing. First, Astolfo expresses his joy that Segismund has just “landed here on Polish soil to fill with so much splendor and delight” which contrasts Segismund’s “arise as does the rising sun Out of the rugged mountains, far away” (II. 230-234). The juxtaposition of these two settings highlights how out of place Segismund is within the royal castle. Poland is made to seem as a prosperous happy land while Segismund is portrayed as more like a beast arriving to the palace than a human. Next, Astolfo introduces himself as “The Duke of Muscovy. You are my cousin. We are of equal rank.” (II. 241-242). Such a remark clearly angered Segismund, who does not understand the concept of nobility due to his isolated and savage upbringing. Segismund had little chance to comprehend the idea of nobility, so he instead chooses bother Astolfo irritatingly. Lastly, as mentioned before, the servant again reiterates Segismund’s “breeding Amongst the mountains”, implying that the sophisticated and the good only come from the urban setting. Meanwhile, those raised outside the urban structure are not capable of in depth thought or reasoning. This assumption again reiterates the characterization of Segismund as a beast, rather than a man. The quotations all challenge Segismund’s ability to adjust to life in the castle and act royally through contrasting setting. Since Segismund came from the wilderness and has yet to experience noble life, it appears unlikely that he will be capable of his future calculated and moral actions.

In conclusion, through the utilization of setting, Calderon deepens Segismund’s characterization as a continually befuddled and dim brute. This is important as Segismund’s eventual evolution as a character fosters the theme of goodness in all people. Without this initial characterization using setting, Segismund’s shift in morality would not be as clear, weakening the theme of all people being capable of goodness.