Who was Pedro Calderón de la Barca?
Pedro (not Pascal) Calderón de la Barca reminds us, through his plays, of honor and the importance of justice. To learn more about his life, read below.
A less-known Pedro was a Baroque playwright and one of the key figures of the Spanish Golden Age (Siglo de Oro). He was born in Madrid, Spain, on January 17, 1600. Calderón received military training and participated in several wars. After being injured in 1642, he could no longer serve in the army. Two years later, he served the Duke of Alba until 1651, when he was ordained as a chaplain. He died on May 25, 1681, in Madrid.
Plays
Calderón wrote approximately 200 works for the stage: around 120 dramatic texts and comedies, and about 80 sacramental plays (autos sacramentales). During his lifetime, he was best known for his autos sacramentales. These were short, one-act plays, usually performed outdoors. In modern times, however, critics tend to find his secular plays more compelling because of their complexity and humanistic themes.
Some of his most notable works include La vida es sueño (Life Is a Dream), in which he explores fate and free will. In the drama El alcalde de Zalamea (The Mayor of Zalamea), Calderón writes about honour and justice. The tragedy El médico de su honra (The Surgeon of His Honour) examines themes of honour and jealousy. Another important work is the historical drama La hija del aire (The Daughter of the Air), which some critics consider Calderón’s masterpiece. Also worth mentioning is the allegorical play El gran teatro del mundo (The Great Theatre of the World), which explores the roles people play in life.
Thoughts on Calderón de la Barca's message
Pedro (not Pascal) Calderón de la Barca reminds us, through his plays, of honor and the importance of justice. He teaches us, especially in El alcalde de Zalamea, that justice should serve all people; otherwise, what purpose does it have if it serves only a few?
Have you read any of his plays? If so, what are your thoughts on them? And what do you think about justice today - is it served fairly in your society?
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Sources:
Uskoković, Davor, Vodič kroz lektiru za srednje škole, Zagreb: Mozaik knjiga, 2009
Parker, Alexander A., "Pedro Calderón de la Barca". Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 May. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pedro-Calderon-de-la-Barca.