Spanish Renaissance

1. Spanish Renaissance

2. Renaissance Drama in Spain • Spanish Renaissance drama is heavily influenced by: • Islamic Culture • Nearly 600 years of Moorish (i.e., Islamic) occupation (711–1276) • Revealed in attitudes toward women and honor • Catholicism • Determined to Christianize Spain, Ferdinand & Isabella instituteThe Spanish Inquisition (1478–1834) • Seen in the emphasis on religious faith and doctrine • Spain’s sense of its own position as a world power • Ever hear of Christopher Columbus? • Dominant force in the New World • By 1550, the most powerful nation in the western world

3. The “Golden Age” of Spanish DramaSiglo de Oro 1580 – 1680 • Dominated by a sense of confidence, energy, expansiveness, and faith in God, church, and state. • As Muslims are driven out of the peninsula, religious (Christian) drama begins to spread (the autos sacramentales) • By 1454, actors are being paid to perform in religious plays • Spain had close ties with Italy from 1470–1550 • Italy’s interest in classical learning/art is adopted by intellectual elites in Spain • By 1550, secular drama has emerged (for an aristocratic audience) • Always written in verse (never developed a Spanish “blank verse”)

4. Lope de Vega(1562–1635) • Most popular playwright of his age • Remarkably prolific (~450 plays survive) • His plays are notable for: • Clearly defined actions which arouseand maintain suspense • Plots that revolve around conflictingclaims of love and honor * • Darker side of life always glossed overwith a happy ending • His female roles are among his best • Natural dialogue • Never penetrates deeply into human nature • Work to know: The Sheep Well (c. 1614) • * Most succeeding Spanish drama adopts this favorite theme of his

5. Calderón(1600–1681) • Ranked above Lope de Vega by many critics • Wrote primarily for the court theatre • Lope de Vega wrote mostly for the public theatres • Became a priest in 1651 • Lope did the same in 1614, after a veryflamboyant life • Of approx. 200 plays, 100 survive…80 are religious plays • Considered to have perfected the auto sacramentale (religious play) • Best secular plays were written 1622–1640 • “Cape and Sword” comedies – happily resolved love intrigues • Serious plays – explore jealousy and honor • Most famous secular play is Life Is a Dream (c. 1636) • Created a kind of musical comedy genre, the zarzuela

6. Renaissance Drama in France

7. The Renaissance continues to flow northward • Late 1400s – France begins to feel the effects of the Renaissance • Italian artists and scholars are soon invited to the French court • Medieval influences persist throughout the 16th century, as well • So, Medieval and Renaissance elements exist side by side equally influential • The usual pattern unfolds… • Begins with study of Roman plays • Next come imitations of Classical works, but still written in Latin • Finally, plays in French (c. 1540) • Renaissance influence accelerates with King Henri II, around 1550 • He married Catherine de’ Medici (a very wealthy, powerful Florentine family) • Among other things, the Medicis were very generous patrons of the arts

8. La Pléiade • The Pléiade were a group of seven French writers of the 16th century • The group was established by 1550 • Their goal was to elevate the French language as a worthy medium for literature modeled on classical works • Their works were aimed primarily at the educated elite • Thefirst plays in French modeled on classical forms were by a member of La Pléiade, Etienne Jodelle. • The last member died in 1605 (the rest had passed by 1590) • Comparable to the University Wits in England

9. Pierre Corneille 1606-1650 Founder of French classical tragedy Known for simple characters in complex plots Named to Les Cinq Auteurs (“The Five Poets”) in 1634, a group hand picked by Cardinal Richelieu to write virtuous drama based on themes and outlines he provided. Major work to know: LeCid(“The Lord”), c. 1636 Plot revolves around conflict between love and honor Observes some, but not all, of the neoclassical unities The French Academy criticized it for this, calling it dramatically implausible (strained verisimilitude) and morally defective (violated decorum) The French Academy (Académiefrançaise) was established by Cardinal Richelieu in 1634 as the official state institution for maintaining standards of literary taste

10. Jean Racine 1639-1699 • Considered to have mastered French classical tragedy • Adhered strictly to the neoclassical ideals (including the unities) • His first two plays were produced by Molière • Works characterized bysimple plots but complex characters • Drama focuses on characters’psychological internal conflictsnot so much on external events

11. Molière1622-1673 • Real name: Jean-Baptiste Poquelin • Actor, Playwright, Producer, Director • Greatest of all writers of French comedy • His farces were heavily influenced bycommedia dell’arte • Greatest achievements are his comedies ofcharacter & manners • His biting satire of contemporary societystirred controversy • Works to know: Tartuffe, The Misanthrope, The Imaginary Invalid • Brought comedy indoors departing from the classical model • Characters do not learn or change by the end