Life is a Dream blog post

In Life is a Dream the author raises questions concerning the innate evil or good of man while also presenting a perplexing tale that questions ones views of destiny. In this piece setting is the most emphatic, in my opinion, when we are introduced to Segismund in the first act. Here the reader gets a glimpse of the imprisoned heir to the throne contemplating his own misery.

Lines 110-120

Segismund: Yet I, with better instincts than a beast, Must have less liberty?
The fish is born, the birth of spawn and slimem
That does not even live by breathing air.
No sooner does it feel itself a skiff
Of silver scales upon the wave than swiftly
it roves about in all directions taking
the measure of immensity as far
as its cold blood's capacity allows
Yet I, with greater freedom of the will
Must have less liberty?


Here the setting of the mountainside at nightfall adds to the poignancy of his sadness. For one, one can imagine a sun setting in the background which adds to the somber essence of his lines. The slow cover of darkness perfectly mirrors the inner turmoil of Segismund. As he repeats, "Must have less liberty?" The reader sinks into the gloom just as the sun sinks in the backdrop. The very fact that he is outside adds to the dialogue's potency. As he lists examples of animals inferior to himself, he may have literally been observing the creatures being described. His observable world becomes the reader's observable world as Rosaura and Clarion eavesdrop on him.
On a larger note, I think the point of this play is to directly oppose the idea of inevitable fate or maybe even the idea of prophecy altogether. The author does not paint Segismund as a victim of fate. The author also reveals that inherent morality exists in all humans when Segismund has mercy on Rosaura. The raw, caveman setting just further develops these sentiments. Animals are observable all around that reveal a lower level of intelligence which Segismund sees as inferior to his own. Segismund innately knows his identity and perceives his current status as a disgrace considering his human potential. The prison is more than just a physical container; it places mental limitations on Segismund as well. These boundaries plague Segismund's conscience and present a setting that vividly reveals the innate qualities of man as the author sees them.