Theatre

Lope de Vega a Spanish playwright wrote one of the most significant play in his entire work known as the Fuenteovejuna. It was published for the very first time in 1619 in Madrid. The play is based on one of the occurrences that took place in a village known as Fuente Obejuna in  HYPERLINK httpen.wikipedia.orgwikiCastile_28historical_region29 o Castile (historical region) Castile in the year 1476 (Vega 4). The villagers were mistreated by Fernn Gmez de Guzmn who was given the mandate to do so by Calatravas order. The villagers could not bear this mistreatment anymore and therefore they united and killed him. This made Ferdinand II of Aragon send a magistrate to the village so that he could investigate on the matter. The villagers were tortured so that they would say who had undertaken the act of murder but all they said was that Fuenteovejuna was responsible.
The background of this story goes back to the time when Spain was undergoing through a rapid change a hundred and fifty years after Fuenteovejuna original events that took place in the year 1476 to the time when Lope wrote the play in the year 1612. Spain had become a super-power due to its unity under the Habsburgs following the discovery of the New World. At the time when the play was written by Lope, Spain was still under the middle time of a Golden age. This golden age was marked by arts and literature in Spain that were flourishing. The era coincided with the decline of the Spanish Habsburg and the rise of politics. 
Princess Isabella of Castile married Aragons Prince Ferdinand II seven years before Fuenteovejuna events in 1469. The two major kingdoms of Aragon and Castile both of Spain were therefore merged through this marriage. Through this marriage, Christian Reconquista was brought to an end from the Muslim Moors of Spain. When Enrique IV, Isabels half-brother died, she rose to the throne in 1474. Alfonso V of Portugal on the other end went to Spain in order to secure Juanas throne the daughter of Enrique and Castiles princess. Two years later, Juana and Alfonso were defeated by Isabella and Ferdinands forces at the Battle of Toro. Ciudal was attacked in the same year by knights by the Order of Calatrava under the rule of 17-year old and Grand Mater Rodrigo Tellez Giroin who was a supporter of Alfonso and Juanas claims to the throne. The city was located near the border of Castile and therefore it was of strategic importance. Commander Guzman was killed during this invasion by the villagers since he was treating them poorly (Ganelin 12).
The synopses of the play opens with act one at Rodrigo Tellez Giron, Grand Master of the Order of Calatravas home. Fernn Gomez de Guzman a commander of the order urges the superiors to invade Ciudad Real town for the sake of Alfonso of Portugal and Juana. Giron makes up his mind to capture the city. The villagers and the village of Fuenteovejuna are introduced in this scene whereby it speaks of love. The commander goes tom the village and makes an attempt to take Laurencia and Pascuala by force to the castle. However, they resist the capture and overpower the commander and escape. Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand are on a discussion about how they would invade Ciudada Real town making a vow to do so within the shortest time possible. Laurencia after the escapes meet with her lover Frondoso meet in the forest. At the time, the commander was traveling in the forest and comes across Laurencia and attempts to force himself into her while her lover was watching from a hiding. During this time as the commander struggles with the woman, he puts down his crossbow that was rather destructing him from carrying out his mission. Unluckily for him, the Crossbow is taken by Frondoso who points it to him as he gets away with his lover. This makes the commander so furious that he curses the couple as they disappear from his sight.
 The beginning of Act II it takes place with a discussion among the peasants in a village but is later interrupted by the commanders entrance. He demands Laurencias father, Esteban to allow him have her daughter. However, the father declines and this makes the commander very furious as he takes it like an abuse to him. During this time of dialogue between Esteban and the commander, a soldier enters the scene with the news for the commander that the Royal City had been invaded and was now being surrounded by Isabella and Ferdinands forces. This makes the commander drop down the talk and heads back to Ciudal Real town. Pascuala and Laurencia run away together with Mengo, another peasant. They meet Jacinta another peasant girl who was been persuaded by the commanders servants. Mengo however protects Jacinta from the commanders servants. Unluckily for them, they are captured by the same men and Mengo is whipped while Jacinta was broken her virginity by the commander who later hands her over to his men. Esteben allows Frondoso to marry his daughter Laurencia but as the wedding proceeds, its interrupted by the commander. He arrests him because he had threatened the commander with the crossbow when they were in the forest. Laurencia and her father are also arrested together with Frondoso for their resistance.
The third act of the play takes place in the village where men are gathered to decide the way forward due to the harassment they were going through form the commander and his men. At that time, Laurencia enters having been beaten and being forced to have sex though he declined and beat the attackers. He is very furious that the men did not gather before to help her from the arms of the commander. This persuades her to gather the women so that they would plot about how they would murder the commander. Just before Frondoso is hanged, the villagers enter the scene where the act was to take place and kills the commander and one of his servants.
After the murder is successfully undertaken, the villagers return to their village where they celebrate their victory while holding up high the head of the commander. Isabella and Ferdinand hear about this incident from, one of the servant who had survived and sends a magistrate to the village to investigate the murder case. The villagers however had already planned that they would not betray anyone who had participated. Despite the severe torture that was inflicted on them, they only said that Fuenteovejuna was responsible for the murder. This left the magistrate only confused and frustrated as he does not get the answer he needed. Isabella and Ferdinand are therefore forced to pardon the Grand Master regarding the murder case. The villagers also narrate their story to Isabella and Ferdinand. They are also pardoned as the play comes to an end.
From the summary of this story, one will realize tat there are several pertinent aspects of the Spanish Golden Age. One of them being the time this play was written. Te Spanish Golden Age began in 1492 and ended politically no later than 1659. Therefore, sine this story was written in 1619, its therefore evident that it lies between these times. Consequently, due to this period, the writer integrated some of the major aspects of the Spanish Golden Age.
Another evident aspect of the Spanish Golden Age in this play is the set of government that was used in it. In the Spanish Golden Age, the government was composed of a King and a chief minister. Just like the case of the play, there was a king, Ferdinand and his chief minister who in the play is depicted as the Commander. This therefore means that the play and the Spanish Golden Age share the same theme in their structure of the government. The writer has therefore used the Spanish Golden Age as his reference when bringing out the theme of the government. In this period of the Spanish Golden Age, there was oppression of the citizens by the elite in the government and both women and children were mistreated. This is the same case as in the play whereby the magistrate tortured women and young boys so that they could reveal the person behind the murder of the commander.                             The common people had no say about what the government was undertaking. However, with time, they joined hands so that they could oppose the deeds of the government. This is also evident in the play whereby as the play ends, the villagers united so that they would kill the commander. The setting of the scene in the play is similar to that of the Spanish Golden Age. The only difference is that the writer of the play chose to depict the period by using only a small setting which was the village and the kings royal palace (Edwards 6).
Another significant similarity between the play and the Spanish Golden Age was the location of the kings palace. In the Spanish Golden Age, the palace was located on top of a hill. This meant that it was isolated away from the citizens residences and security was maintained as it was easier to see the enemies approaching from the bottom of the hill. This is also similar in the case of the play whereby the kings palace was located away from the commons homes. The kings in both contexts had to move for quite a distance before reaching the premises of the citizens.
In conclusion, the writer Lope de Vega had the adequate knowledge about the Spanish Golden Age. He was therefore in a better position to base his play in this period quite well. He has however used different characters and settings but the theme of governance is similar in both contexts.