Juan de la Cueva and his Tragedia de los siete Infantes de Lara

Abstract

This paper analyses tragedy at the end of the 16th century, within the framework of Spanish plays, and specially the Tragedia de los siete Infantes de Lara by Juan de la Cueva. The historic legend, recounted in chronicles and ballads, is taken up in this play just at the end: the initial part is only taken in the accounts of some of the characters. The structure of the tragedy is rather original: Juan de la Cueva goes through successive «pictures» which refer to the most dramatically evocative episodes. Noteworthy is the poet’s interest in the value of words and his search for a formal and learned style, not lacking occasionally of some rhetorical abuses. This paper highlights the characteristics of Cueva’s humanistic style as well as the contradictory points of view in the critical history of this work, which probably raised admiratio but also raised the moral of the audience, as was actually the poet’s intention.