Dramatic Variations on Themes of el Sombrero de Tres Picos

Recent textbook editions of Garcia Lorca's La zapatera prodigiosa and Nal' Roxlo's Una viuda dificil have caused me to notice certain similarities between these plays.' In both, there is a resemblance in title and genre: La zapatera prodigiosa, farsa violenta en dos actos; Una viuda dificil, farsa en tres actos. It is hoped that the resemblance will become more apparent during this discussion. The probable relationship of La zapatera to Alarc6n's and Falla's versions of El sombrero de tres picos has been observed (e.g., Helman, pp. 23, 36). If my assumptions are correct, Una viuda represents variations on the same tragicomic themes and is in keeping with the contemporary realizations of and return to the dramatic and spectacular in the tradition. Not that Alarc6n or his reader is unaware of these elements in the subject and treatment in El sombrero.2

Humanities · Early Modern Spanish Literature · Historical and Modern Theater Studies · Philosophy · Spanish Literature and Culture Studies