What do you think?
Rate this book
Eight Dramas of Calderón
Throughout the world, people believe that much of what they do is accidental, ordinary, and inconsequential, while other acts can bring on divine retribution or earn eternal grace. In Man and the Sacred , Caillois demonstrates how humanity's ambiguous attitude toward the sacred influences behavior and culture.
Drawing on a diverse array of ethnographic contexts, including the sexual rituals of the Ba-Thong of South Africa and evidence drawn from aboriginal Australian, Eskimo, and traditional Chinese social systems, Caillois analyzes the role of the forbidden in the social cohesion of the group. He examines the character of the sacred in the light of specific instances of taboos and transgressions, exploring wide differences in attitudes toward diet and sex and extreme behaviors associated with the sacred, such as rapture and paroxysm. He also discusses the festival--an exuberant explosion following a period of strict repression--and compares its functions with those of modern war.
A classic study of one of the most fundamental aspects of human social and spiritual life, Man and the Sacred--presented here in Meyer Barash's superb English translation--is a companion volume to Caillois's Man, Play and Games.
Drawing on a diverse array of ethnographic contexts, including the sexual rituals of the Ba-Thong of South Africa and evidence drawn from aboriginal Australian, Eskimo, and traditional Chinese social systems, Caillois analyzes the role of the forbidden in the social cohesion of the group. He examines the character of the sacred in the light of specific instances of taboos and transgressions, exploring wide differences in attitudes toward diet and sex and extreme behaviors associated with the sacred, such as rapture and paroxysm. He also discusses the festival--an exuberant explosion following a period of strict repression--and compares its functions with those of modern war.
A classic study of one of the most fundamental aspects of human social and spiritual life, Man and the Sacred--presented here in Meyer Barash's superb English translation--is a companion volume to Caillois's Man, Play and Games.
448 pages, Paperback
First published April 24, 2000
34 people want to read
About the author
Pedro Calderón de la Barca
1,771 books281 followersPedro Calderón de la Barca y Henao was a dramatist of the Spanish Golden Age.
Calderón initiated what has been called the second cycle of Spanish Golden Age theatre. Whereas his predecessor, Lope de Vega, pioneered the dramatic forms and genres of Spanish Golden Age theatre, Calderón polished and perfected them. Whereas Lope's strength lay in the sponteneity and naturalness of his work, Calderón's strength lay in his capacity for poetic beauty, dramatic structure and philosophical depth. Calderón was a perfectionist who often revisited and reworked his plays, even long after they debuted. This perfectionism was not just limited to his own work: many of his plays rework existing plays or scenes by other dramatists, improving their depth, complexity, and unity. (Many European playwrights of the time, such as Molière, Corneille and Shakespeare, reworked old plays in this way.) Calderón excelled above all others in the genre of the "auto sacramental", in which he showed a seemingly inexhaustible capacity to giving new dramatic forms to a given set of theological constructs. Calderón wrote 120 "comedias", 80 "autos sacramentales" and 20 short comedic works called "entremeses"
Calderón initiated what has been called the second cycle of Spanish Golden Age theatre. Whereas his predecessor, Lope de Vega, pioneered the dramatic forms and genres of Spanish Golden Age theatre, Calderón polished and perfected them. Whereas Lope's strength lay in the sponteneity and naturalness of his work, Calderón's strength lay in his capacity for poetic beauty, dramatic structure and philosophical depth. Calderón was a perfectionist who often revisited and reworked his plays, even long after they debuted. This perfectionism was not just limited to his own work: many of his plays rework existing plays or scenes by other dramatists, improving their depth, complexity, and unity. (Many European playwrights of the time, such as Molière, Corneille and Shakespeare, reworked old plays in this way.) Calderón excelled above all others in the genre of the "auto sacramental", in which he showed a seemingly inexhaustible capacity to giving new dramatic forms to a given set of theological constructs. Calderón wrote 120 "comedias", 80 "autos sacramentales" and 20 short comedic works called "entremeses"
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 27, 2017
Eight Plays of Calderon
Dilemma. In reading the forward, I’m informed that the translator Edward FitzGerald is more praised than the playwright! He had taken certain “liberties” with Calderon’s plays that make them more acceptable to the English audience. Really? So, my critique of this book must be read with this in mind: “Whose words am I reading?”
The Painter of His Own Dishonor
I never knew Spanish aristocracy has its share of portrait artists, but Calderon needs such a man to move this drama along. Two lovers separated by the supposed death of one, suffer when reunited after the lady marries the artists. Kidnapping after a convoluted circumstance, the heroic lover takes his former lover back to his father’s unused chalet. The former lover regrets her decision to be kidnapped (while in a faint!) and fears her husband artist may find her. Meanwhile, an enamored prince wants the former lover’s heart and unknowingly hires her disguised husband to surreptitiously paint her portrait. He does and discovers the two former lovers at the chalet and slays them. Honor is restored! The end.
Keep Your Own Secret
A creep of a prince, upon discovering that his best friend and chancellor loves a woman, pursues her and plots to disrupt the friend’s happiness, until the end when he says, “Never mind.”
Gil Perez, The Gallician
A rollicking and unbelievable tale of unhindered machismo, Gil sacrifices everything for his honor.
Three Judgments at a Blow
Minister of king and daughter accosted by robber gang, freed by robber chief. Minister obtains pardon. Chief goes home to once-neglectful father and doting mother. Friend of chief begs him to convince minister’s daughter of his love. Daughter loves chief instead. Duel between two former friends over daughter. Father curses son. Son hits father. Bedlam ensues. Son imprisoned. Disguised king visits mother who confesses son not really hers nor her husband’s but minister’s. More bedlam. When visit confined chief, finds him garroted. The end.
The Mayor of Zalamea
Troops on the move are billeted in Zalamea in the night. A captain rapes the daughter of the farmer (who will be mayor). The mayor follows the book and prosecutes the captain, contrary to the demands of the captain’s General (and friend of the mayor). The King drops by to confirm the sentence.
Beware of Smooth Water
A comedy and a good one two, about two sisters, one of whom is loved by two suitors, the other sister loved by the common friend of the two suitors. Introduce a farcical cousin wanting to marry one and the father swept up in confusion. Ridiculous but fun.
The Mighty Magician
For this play it is well worth buying the book. Very deep, a Faust in Antioch during the early Church persecution by Rome. The classic of Calderon.
Such Stuff as Dreams are Made Of (Life is a Dream)
FitzGerald has renamed this play to fit his own purpose. Much of this story – not play, according to the translator because of the props required - of justified revenge is brilliant. Are we living in a dream and awake only when we dream? However, Calderon needs a lesson in geography before he places a Polish mountain fortress/prison on the border with Russia. And, having never had children, he wouldn’t have known the impossibility of a father imprisoning his only child because his wife died in childbirth. If you can overlook these glaring faults, it is the best of the eight plays.
Dilemma. In reading the forward, I’m informed that the translator Edward FitzGerald is more praised than the playwright! He had taken certain “liberties” with Calderon’s plays that make them more acceptable to the English audience. Really? So, my critique of this book must be read with this in mind: “Whose words am I reading?”
The Painter of His Own Dishonor
I never knew Spanish aristocracy has its share of portrait artists, but Calderon needs such a man to move this drama along. Two lovers separated by the supposed death of one, suffer when reunited after the lady marries the artists. Kidnapping after a convoluted circumstance, the heroic lover takes his former lover back to his father’s unused chalet. The former lover regrets her decision to be kidnapped (while in a faint!) and fears her husband artist may find her. Meanwhile, an enamored prince wants the former lover’s heart and unknowingly hires her disguised husband to surreptitiously paint her portrait. He does and discovers the two former lovers at the chalet and slays them. Honor is restored! The end.
Keep Your Own Secret
A creep of a prince, upon discovering that his best friend and chancellor loves a woman, pursues her and plots to disrupt the friend’s happiness, until the end when he says, “Never mind.”
Gil Perez, The Gallician
A rollicking and unbelievable tale of unhindered machismo, Gil sacrifices everything for his honor.
Three Judgments at a Blow
Minister of king and daughter accosted by robber gang, freed by robber chief. Minister obtains pardon. Chief goes home to once-neglectful father and doting mother. Friend of chief begs him to convince minister’s daughter of his love. Daughter loves chief instead. Duel between two former friends over daughter. Father curses son. Son hits father. Bedlam ensues. Son imprisoned. Disguised king visits mother who confesses son not really hers nor her husband’s but minister’s. More bedlam. When visit confined chief, finds him garroted. The end.
The Mayor of Zalamea
Troops on the move are billeted in Zalamea in the night. A captain rapes the daughter of the farmer (who will be mayor). The mayor follows the book and prosecutes the captain, contrary to the demands of the captain’s General (and friend of the mayor). The King drops by to confirm the sentence.
Beware of Smooth Water
A comedy and a good one two, about two sisters, one of whom is loved by two suitors, the other sister loved by the common friend of the two suitors. Introduce a farcical cousin wanting to marry one and the father swept up in confusion. Ridiculous but fun.
The Mighty Magician
For this play it is well worth buying the book. Very deep, a Faust in Antioch during the early Church persecution by Rome. The classic of Calderon.
Such Stuff as Dreams are Made Of (Life is a Dream)
FitzGerald has renamed this play to fit his own purpose. Much of this story – not play, according to the translator because of the props required - of justified revenge is brilliant. Are we living in a dream and awake only when we dream? However, Calderon needs a lesson in geography before he places a Polish mountain fortress/prison on the border with Russia. And, having never had children, he wouldn’t have known the impossibility of a father imprisoning his only child because his wife died in childbirth. If you can overlook these glaring faults, it is the best of the eight plays.
November 4, 2024
Calderon is one of Spain's most brilliant and prolific playwrights. It is a shame that we have so few works in translation from him, but this tries to bridge the gap with eight out of over 200 works. These are fairly imaginative stories which I would recommend reading.
July 4, 2020
Edward Fitzgerald is better known for his Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam than his translations of Calderon. And from what I’ve read so far, justifiably so. Granted, Fitzgerald calls them “free translation.” But I think as a rule of thumb, when a lesser poet translates a greater poet, the translation should err on the side of literalness, and not freedom.
Here are my thoughts on the plays as I read them:
Such Stuff as Dreams Are Made Of *** -- I don’t know what edition of Shakespeare Fitzgerald is reading, but even the title is given a free translation. It is “Such stuff as dreams are made on.” I understand the sentiment – the title “Life Is a Dream” seems to trite for so amazing a play.
In his free translation of Calderon’s play, Fitzgerald removes or tweaks many things that have puzzled readers (present and past): the strange subplot, the punishment of the rebels, the sister/wife, and the very, very, very, very, very long speeches. He does leave in the marrying of first cousins.
Calderon’s play, from other translations I have read, has many beautiful passages and leaves the reader/audience with a sense of wonder as Segismund grapples with whether what he sees is a dream or reality. It is truly amazing.
Fitzgerald seems to edit many of the speeches and scenes, trying (I think) to give them a more concrete English/Shakespearean feel. That seems to take him off track and many beautiful lines are either skipped or marred in translation.
And honestly, there are many sections that I simply don’t understand what Fitzgerald is trying to say. At the end, for example, Segismund captures the King but basically surrenders himself to the King’s mercy. It is a profound part of the play. But I can’t follow the argument in that pivotal speech. I know from other translations what he’s supposed to be saying, but here I’m totally lost.
This play, and playwright, is sadly unknown to most of the English-speaking world. I strongly recommend reading another translation of it. (I’m familiar with the Campbell and Honig versions which I think are good.) It is, though, an old-fashioned play with the highly figurative poetry, stiff characterizations, and a strange sense of and fascination with honor. But that is worth overlooking for the beauty in this play.
Here are my thoughts on the plays as I read them:
Such Stuff as Dreams Are Made Of *** -- I don’t know what edition of Shakespeare Fitzgerald is reading, but even the title is given a free translation. It is “Such stuff as dreams are made on.” I understand the sentiment – the title “Life Is a Dream” seems to trite for so amazing a play.
In his free translation of Calderon’s play, Fitzgerald removes or tweaks many things that have puzzled readers (present and past): the strange subplot, the punishment of the rebels, the sister/wife, and the very, very, very, very, very long speeches. He does leave in the marrying of first cousins.
Calderon’s play, from other translations I have read, has many beautiful passages and leaves the reader/audience with a sense of wonder as Segismund grapples with whether what he sees is a dream or reality. It is truly amazing.
Fitzgerald seems to edit many of the speeches and scenes, trying (I think) to give them a more concrete English/Shakespearean feel. That seems to take him off track and many beautiful lines are either skipped or marred in translation.
And honestly, there are many sections that I simply don’t understand what Fitzgerald is trying to say. At the end, for example, Segismund captures the King but basically surrenders himself to the King’s mercy. It is a profound part of the play. But I can’t follow the argument in that pivotal speech. I know from other translations what he’s supposed to be saying, but here I’m totally lost.
This play, and playwright, is sadly unknown to most of the English-speaking world. I strongly recommend reading another translation of it. (I’m familiar with the Campbell and Honig versions which I think are good.) It is, though, an old-fashioned play with the highly figurative poetry, stiff characterizations, and a strange sense of and fascination with honor. But that is worth overlooking for the beauty in this play.
July 21, 2011
I really enjoyed this Fitzgerald translation or Calderon.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews