Master of Arts

thesisIn Calderon's !'Life is a Dream", Segismundo,the son of Basilio,king of Poland,has teen kept in a tower since his "birth, because,through astrology,his father has "been told that his son would become a tyrant* The king has arranged to leave his throne to Astolfo and Estrella,nephew and niece,who are to he married. But Astolfo is already hound in honor to wed Rosaura,who,in disguise, follows her lover to Poland* Feeling that his end is near, the old monarch decides to test Segismundo before he declares Astolfo king. With the help of his confidant,Clotaldo,who is also Segismundo's keeper,a sleeping potion is administered to Segismundo#who,when he awakes,finds himself king in a palace. The change so asto^ds him that he fulfills the prediction of the stars only too well. The experiment is a failure. At night another sleeping potion is given him and he is taken back to his prison. Vthen he awakes,Clotaldo makes him believe that his experience has been a dream and that Astolfo has been declared king. But the people do not want Astolfo for their king and, freeing Segismundo,they organize themselves under his leadership. The king's army is headed by Astolfo* Segismundo is successful and once again in power,he calls for vengeance. Basilio realizing that all is lost,casts himself at the feet of the tyrant son. The pitiful sight suddenly touches Segismundo's heart,he asks forgiveness of his father and resolves to benefit from the lesson he has learned and use his power for the good.With the restoration of Rosaura's honor,the play ends happily for all. The Dream,a Life" takes the reader into Samarkand,a small city of Turkestan.(G). A young peasant,Rustan,has heard that the king of Samarkand is in danger from a serpent which pefsistently follows him. The king has offered to the slayer of this monster, his daughter and half his kingdom,as a reward. Rustan,incited by the negro slave Zanga,determines to try to gain the rewardo Accordingly he takes leave of his uncle Massud and his cousin Mirza,who is in love with him,and does not heed their entreaties to stay at home. In the second and third acts,which prove to be "but a dream,Rustan meets the king,and takes to himself the honor of having killed the serpent.although the feat has actually been performed by another man. He immediately becomes a favorite of the king and honor after honor is bestowed upon him. He is continually Encouraged by Zanga to shrink before nothing to further his own advancement. He is just at the height of his ambition and about to marry Giilnare,the king's daughter,when suddenly his duplicity is discovered. Fleeing from the angry mob which follows him,he runs to a precipice.starts to fall- and awakes. He,too, determines to use his dream in a helpful way. Therefore,he gives up his foolish intention of going to seek adventures and remains contented with Mirza and Massud,to their infinite delight