Hasta el fin nadie es dichoso, by Agustín Moreto and its new version from Los enemigos hermanos, by Guillén de Castro

Abstract

This is a study about the hypotheses for the dating of Hasta el fin nadie es dichoso, one of the comedies published in Agustín Moreto’s Primera parte. We date its writing between the end of January 1653 and 1654, i.e., very close in time to El desdén, con el desdén. The study is also focused on the analysis of the dramatic strategies deployed by Moreto in his adaptation of the comedy Los enemigos hermanos by Guillén de Castro. The comparison between the two comedies is based on three aspects: the encounter between the main couples of lovers and the first sequences; the role played by the plot of honour; and the role played by the graciosos in the main plot. Although Hasta el fin nadie es dichoso, published in Moreto’s Primera parte, is one of the most neglected comedies by the critics, its analysis as a new version of the work by Guillén de Castro contributes, undoubtedly, to the study of Moreto’s theatre practice.