If I were using the play The House of Trials to make some conclusions about comedia conventions, I would probably first point out the fact that comedia plays often dealt with the subject of honor. In modern American theater, I'm not even sure the word honor would pop into my head when I was describing a play, but honor is a prominent theme in Trials and most likely other Spanish Golden Age plays. The whole "I'll fix things so I'm found in the same room alone with the man I'm in love with" and the "My wife isn't a virgin so I must murder her immediately and should probably kill myself too" ideas found in Trials reinforce the theme that honor is important.
Another conclusion to be made about comedias is that there is a certain element of controlled chaos. Often times while I reading, I pictured a pretty simple set that really just consisted of a bunch of doors. There are plenty of well timed entrances and exits, and barely missed conversations that makes the play just work. Just like my previous example where women would choreograph a situation to get a man, characters were often finding themselves stuck in situations where they just had to go with it. Another example of controlled chaos is Castano disguising himself as a woman. Castano has to deliver a letter but doesn't want to be recognized so he disguises himself, but just before he embarks, Pedro thinks Castano is Leonor. With all of these quick, rapid-fire scenes and scenarios, I definitely think that the controlled chaos idea was used prominently in Spanish Golden Age plays.
I really like your observation of how much craziness actually took place in this house over the course of one night. With all of the entrances and exits and disguises and hideouts, it really reminded me of a "Glass of Water"-esque well-made play that just happened to come 300 years early. It also seems like both of your ideas work together really well, considering all of the chaos that ensued occurred simply to preserve everyone's honor. This just provides further evidence in assuming that both of these conclusions are valid, considering they both feed into each other so perfectly.
ReplyDeleteI had not considered the controlled chaos element before. That is a really great observation. Like you said, so much of the play is manipulation, secrecy or trickery. And the schemes are always precarious, only just working. It is an interesting method of creating suspense and intrigue that is still popular today. It is so prominent in this play; I agree that it must have been a convention throughout comedia during the Spanish Golden Age.
ReplyDeleteMichael I have to say I truly enjoy reading your blog posts. You dig deep into these plays and often notice things that I never do. You observation of the organized chaos is quite brilliant honestly. It plays well with your idea of honor and many peoples need to preserve it and the lengths that people will go to do so. As in the house of Trials people go to great lengths to preserve their honor.
ReplyDeleteAw thanks Tyler!
DeleteI wholeheartedly agree that there is some convention of honor amongst the portrayal of the higher class in the commedia style based on this play. An interesting aspect that you pointed out though was the concept of controlled chaos in the world of the play. The action is definitely a bunch of close calls and near devastating encounters. So yes, that works quite well. Thank you for pointing that out.
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