Summary of Life is a Dream By Pedro Calderón de la Barca
By PKG SIR
Bankura University BA 7th Semester
A noble lady named Rosaura arrives in Poland with her servant Clarín. She wears men’s clothing to disguise her identity. A nobleman named Astolfo betrayed her in Muscovy and stole her honour. Rosaura wants to find Astolfo and take revenge. While walking in the dark mountains, she finds a hidden tower. Inside the tower, a young prince named Segismundo lives in heavy iron chains. He wears rough animal skins and laments his miserable life. Segismundo does not understand his crime, because he has only lived in darkness.
The royal jailer Clotaldo suddenly enters the tower with his guards. He arrests Rosaura and Clarín for entering the secret place. Clotaldo takes Rosaura's sword and inspects the weapon closely. He immediately recognizes this special sword from his own past. He realizes that Rosaura is his own child from Muscovy. Clotaldo wants to protect his child, but he must follow the royal law. King Basilio has ordered the death penalty for all trespassers. Clotaldo takes the prisoners to the royal palace in Warsaw to face the king's final judgment.
At the royal palace, King Basilio speaks openly to his court and his relatives. Astolfo and Princess Estrella are both trying to claim the vacant throne. King Basilio makes a surprising confession before all the nobles. He reveals that his son Segismundo is still alive in the mountain tower. Astrologers predicted at Segismundo's birth that the boy would become a cruel monster. The stars showed that the prince would kill his father and destroy the kingdom. King Basilio locked his infant son away to protect Poland from total ruin. Now, the old king feels deep guilt and wants to test the prophecy.
King Basilio orders Clotaldo to bring Segismundo to the palace under a strong sleeping potion. The servants dress the sleeping prince in rich royal clothes and lay him on a luxurious bed. Segismundo wakes up in the bright palace and feels total confusion. Clotaldo informs him about his royal birth and his long imprisonment. This bitter truth makes Segismundo very angry. The prince loses control of his temper. He throws an annoying servant from the high balcony into the sea. He attacks Clotaldo with a sword and threatens King Basilio directly. King Basilio feels terrified and drugs his son again. The guards carry the sleeping prince back to his dark tower.
Segismundo wakes up once more in his heavy iron chains. He feels extreme pain and confusion in his dark cell. Clotaldo tells him that the whole palace experience was only a dream. Segismundo accepts this explanation and thinks deeply about human life. He realizes that worldly power and riches are completely temporary. He decides to control his wild passions and act with virtue. He delivers his famous speech about the illusion of reality. He concludes that all of human life is merely a dream, and dreams are only dreams.
The common people of Poland learn the truth about their rightful prince. They refuse to accept Prince Astolfo from Muscovy as their new ruler. The soldiers attack the tower and release Segismundo from his chains. They ask the prince to lead a massive rebellion against King Basilio. Segismundo agrees to lead the army, but he chooses the path of goodness. Clotaldo refuses to fight against the king because of his old loyalty. Segismundo respects Clotaldo's honest decision and spares his life. The prince decides to perform good deeds, because virtue matters even in a dream.
Segismundo leads the rebel soldiers and defeats the royal army on the battlefield. King Basilio falls to his knees before his victorious son and prepares for death. Segismundo surprises everyone with his great mercy and wisdom. He lifts his father gently and bows before him with deep respect. King Basilio happily gives the royal crown to his wise and noble son. Segismundo orders Astolfo to marry Rosaura to restore her lost honor. Segismundo then marries Princess Estrella to unite the entire kingdom in lasting peace. He rules Poland with great kindness, because he knows that all worldly glory passes away like a dream.
A noble lady named Rosaura arrives in Poland with her servant Clarín. She wears men’s clothing to disguise her identity. A nobleman named Astolfo betrayed her in Muscovy and stole her honour. Rosaura wants to find Astolfo and take revenge. While walking in the dark mountains, she finds a hidden tower. Inside the tower, a young prince named Segismundo lives in heavy iron chains. He wears rough animal skins and laments his miserable life. Segismundo does not understand his crime, because he has only lived in darkness.
The royal jailer Clotaldo suddenly enters the tower with his guards. He arrests Rosaura and Clarín for entering the secret place. Clotaldo takes Rosaura's sword and inspects the weapon closely. He immediately recognizes this special sword from his own past. He realizes that Rosaura is his own child from Muscovy. Clotaldo wants to protect his child, but he must follow the royal law. King Basilio has ordered the death penalty for all trespassers. Clotaldo takes the prisoners to the royal palace in Warsaw to face the king's final judgment.
At the royal palace, King Basilio speaks openly to his court and his relatives. Astolfo and Princess Estrella are both trying to claim the vacant throne. King Basilio makes a surprising confession before all the nobles. He reveals that his son Segismundo is still alive in the mountain tower. Astrologers predicted at Segismundo's birth that the boy would become a cruel monster. The stars showed that the prince would kill his father and destroy the kingdom. King Basilio locked his infant son away to protect Poland from total ruin. Now, the old king feels deep guilt and wants to test the prophecy.
King Basilio orders Clotaldo to bring Segismundo to the palace under a strong sleeping potion. The servants dress the sleeping prince in rich royal clothes and lay him on a luxurious bed. Segismundo wakes up in the bright palace and feels total confusion. Clotaldo informs him about his royal birth and his long imprisonment. This bitter truth makes Segismundo very angry. The prince loses control of his temper. He throws an annoying servant from the high balcony into the sea. He attacks Clotaldo with a sword and threatens King Basilio directly. King Basilio feels terrified and drugs his son again. The guards carry the sleeping prince back to his dark tower.
Segismundo wakes up once more in his heavy iron chains. He feels extreme pain and confusion in his dark cell. Clotaldo tells him that the whole palace experience was only a dream. Segismundo accepts this explanation and thinks deeply about human life. He realizes that worldly power and riches are completely temporary. He decides to control his wild passions and act with virtue. He delivers his famous speech about the illusion of reality. He concludes that all of human life is merely a dream, and dreams are only dreams.
The common people of Poland learn the truth about their rightful prince. They refuse to accept Prince Astolfo from Muscovy as their new ruler. The soldiers attack the tower and release Segismundo from his chains. They ask the prince to lead a massive rebellion against King Basilio. Segismundo agrees to lead the army, but he chooses the path of goodness. Clotaldo refuses to fight against the king because of his old loyalty. Segismundo respects Clotaldo's honest decision and spares his life. The prince decides to perform good deeds, because virtue matters even in a dream.
Segismundo leads the rebel soldiers and defeats the royal army on the battlefield. King Basilio falls to his knees before his victorious son and prepares for death. Segismundo surprises everyone with his great mercy and wisdom. He lifts his father gently and bows before him with deep respect. King Basilio happily gives the royal crown to his wise and noble son. Segismundo orders Astolfo to marry Rosaura to restore her lost honor. Segismundo then marries Princess Estrella to unite the entire kingdom in lasting peace. He rules Poland with great kindness, because he knows that all worldly glory passes away like a dream.
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