Life Is a Dream | Blog Post 3

ACT II

621-626

Rosaura: Rosaura?

        Sir, you mistake me for some old lady.

        I am Astrea, and my humble station

        Deserves no perturbation such as yours

Astolfo: Enough of this pretense, Rosaura, since

        The soul can never lie. Though as Astrea

        I see you now, I love you as Rosaura

664-666

Astolfo: Enough, my dear

        Rosaura!

Rosaura: I, your dear? You lie, you villain! 

691-695

Rosaura: It is not mine?

Stella: Why, who could doubt it?

Rosaura: Ask him for the other.

Stella: Here, take your own, Astrea. You may leave us.

Rosaura: Now I have got my portrait, come what will.

            This part of Act II takes place near the end in the hall of the palace, presumably near the throne room. In this excerpt, Stella tells Rosaura (Astrea) that Astolfo has the portrait of another woman around his neck. Next, she tells Rosaura to fetch the portrait for her. When Rosaura goes to get the portrait, Astolfo recognizes her and professes his love. While the two are arguing, Stella comes back and Rosaura makes up a story that the portrait is hers and Astolfo still has his hidden.

            As this portion takes place in the palace, it emphasizes the gravity of the situation. Astolfo and Stella are the future rulers, yet he is adorned with the portrait of another woman, a maid. Not only is it taboo that he is seemingly in love with another woman, that woman is thought to be of low class, someone unsuitable. Setting this part within the castle, near the throne, makes the love triangle more severe. This isn’t just another love story, it is how the king to be loves someone besides the queen to be.

            This ‘point’ is then magnified as it deals with nobility within the palace walls. The fact that all of this is happening to the princess, duke, king, etc. makes the purpose that much more significant. Yes, things, scandals, happen daily in the lives of commoners, but any scandal in the noble family is magnified; the royal family is one to look up to, an example of sorts. The fact that they are dealing with a love triangle, as well as imprisonment of Segismund, is huge.