Chapter XXII: Pedro Calderon De La Barca

Birth and Family 333
Education 334
Festivals of San Isidro 335
Serves as a Soldier 336
Writes for the Stage 336
Patronized by Philip the Fourth 336
Rebellion in Catalonia 337
Controls the Theatre 337
Enters the Church 337
Less favored by Charles the Second 338
Death and Burial 339
Person and Character 340
His Works 341
His Dramas 342
Many falsely ascribed to him 342
Their Number 343
His Autos Sacramentales 344
Feast of the Corpus Christi 345
His different Autos 347
His Divino Orfeo 348
Popularity of his Autos 350
His Religious Plays 351
Troubles with the Church 351
Ecclesiastics write Plays 352
Calderon’s San Patricio 353
His Devocion de la Cruz 355
His Mágico Prodigioso 355
Other similar Plays 358

CHAPTER XXIII.

CALDERON, CONTINUED.

Characteristics of his Drama 360
Trusts to the Story 361
Sacrifices much to it 362
Dramatic Interest strong 363
Love, Jealousy, and Honor 364
Amar despues de la Muerte 364
El Médico de su Honra 368
El Pintor de su Deshonra 371
El Mayor Monstruo los Zelos 371
El Príncipe Constante 376

CHAPTER XXIV.

CALDERON, CONCLUDED.

Comedias de Capa y Espada 381
Antes que todo es mi Dama 382
La Dama Duende 383
La Vanda y la Flor 385
Various Sources of Calderon’s Plots 389
Castilian Tone everywhere 389
Exaggerated Sense of Honor 391
Domestic Authority 392
Duels 393
Immoral Tendency of his Dramas 394
Attacked 394
Defended 394
Calderon’s courtly Tone 395
His Style and Versification 396
His long Success 397
Changes the Drama little 399
But gives it a lofty Tone 400
His Dramatic Character 401