Historical Figure
Lope de Vega
1562–1635
Spanish playwright and poet (1562–1635)
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Biography
Félix Lope de Vega y Carpio was a Spanish playwright, poet, and novelist who was a key figure in the Spanish Golden Age (1492–1659) of Baroque literature. In the literature of Spain, Lope de Vega is often considered second only to Miguel de Cervantes. Cervantes said that Lope de Vega was “The Phoenix of Wits” and “Monster of Nature”.
In Their Own Words (5)
Since after all, it is the crowd who pays,Why not content them when you write your plays?
Arte nuevo de hacer comedias en este tiempo, line 47. (1609). Translation from Marvin A. Carlson Theories of the Theatre (Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press, [1984] 1993) p. 62. , 1609
And what shall I say of the poets? Oh, this poor century of ours! In the coming year many of them will make their start, but not one of them is as bad as Cervantes, or idiotic enough to praise Don Quixote.
Letter dated August 14, 1604; cited from Nicolás Marín (ed.) Cartas (Madrid: Clásicos Castalia, 1985) p. 68. Translation by Ilsa Barea, from Sebastià Juan Arbó Cervantes: Adventurer, Idealist, and Destiny's Fool (London: Thames and Hudson, 1955) p. 204. , 1604
Lone I muse but feel not lonely,Covert solitude’s my lore;For my company I onlyWant my thoughts and nothing more.
Act I, sc. iv. Translation from John Armstrong Crow An Anthology of Spanish Poetry (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State Univ. Press, 1979) p. 107. , 1632
Dijeron que antiguamentese fue la verdad al cielo;tal la pusieron los hombres,que desde entonces no ha vuelto.En dos edades vivimoslos propios y los ajenos:la de plata los estraños,y la de cobre los nuestros.
In ancient days they said truth had fled to heaven: attacked on every side, it's not been heard of since. We live in different ages, non-Spaniards and ourselves: they in the age of silver, we in the age of brass. , 1632
Harmony is pure love, for love is complete agreement.
Fuenteovejuna (1613), Barrildo, Act I. , 1613
Timeline
The story of Lope de Vega, told in moments.
Sails with the Spanish Armada against England. His ship survives the disaster. He reportedly spends the voyage writing a poem. The Armada loses. He goes home and keeps writing plays.
Publishes Arte nuevo de hacer comedias, a treatise defending popular theater against classical rules. He argues plays should entertain audiences, not please scholars. He's producing several plays a month at this point.
Takes holy orders and becomes a priest. He's already had two wives (both dead), multiple mistresses, several children both legitimate and otherwise, and a conviction for libel. The Church accepts him anyway. He keeps writing.
Dies in Madrid at 72. He wrote an estimated 1,800 plays, of which about 500 survive. Cervantes called him a "monster of nature." His funeral procession lasted three days. Half of Madrid turned out.
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