Comedia (Spanish play)

In the Spanish Golden Age (Siglo de Oro) tradition, a comedia is a three-act play combining dramatic and comic elements. The principal characters are noblemen (galanes; sg.: galán) and ladies (damas) who work out a plot involving love, jealousy, honor and sometimes also piety or patriotism. Supporting characters include comical servants (graciosos) who assist their employers in carrying out the action.

Largely created and defined by Lope de Vega,[1] the style is defined by a mixture of tragedy and comedy. Originally referred to loosely as "tragicomedy", the name was eventually shortened to simply "comedia". Dr. Sebastián Francisco de Medrano, founder and president of the Medrano Academy (1616–1622), became the commissioner of the Spanish Inquisition, official censor of comedias.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Campbell, Jodi (2006). Monarchy, political culture, and drama in seventeenth-century Madrid: theater of negotiation. Ashgate Publishing. p. 25. ISBN 0-7546-5418-4
  2. ^ Cervantes, Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de. "Favores de las musas hechos a Don Sebastian Francisco de Medrano ..." Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-01-03.