29 pages • 58 minutes read
Pedro Calderón de la BarcaLife Is a Dream
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1636A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Life Is a Dream by Pedro Calderón de la Barca is a Spanish play involving Rossaura and her servant discovering a prisoner, Prince Sigismund, hidden away by his father, King Vasily, to prevent a prophecy. The king tests Sigismund's nobility by bringing him to the palace, prepared to convince him it was a dream should he fail. Ultimately, Sigismund grapples with truth and illusion, choosing to act morally. The book contains themes of imprisonment and familial betrayal.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Life Is a Dream by Pedro Calderón de la Barca is lauded for its philosophical depth, intricate plot, and exploration of free will versus fate. Critics appreciate its poetic eloquence and complex characters. However, some readers find the language dense and the themes overly abstract. Overall, it remains a powerful and thought-provoking piece of Spanish Golden Age literature.
Who Should Read Life Is a Dream ?
Readers who relish philosophical musings on fate and free will, as seen in Shakespeare's Hamlet, will appreciate Life Is a Dream by Pedro Calderón de la Barca. They are likely interested in classical literature and existential themes, finding resonance in the moral dilemmas and intricate plot of Calderón's play.