Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Fuente Ovejuna, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Tyranny vs. Collectivism
Love and Respect
Honor
Power and Christianity
Language, Knowledge, and Truth
Summary
Analysis
Esteban, Alonso, Barrildo, Juan Rojo, Mengo and another alderman meet in secret to discuss what to do about Frondoso and Laurencia’s capture. Esteban is overcome with sadness and wonders what they can do to restore honor in the town. He asks if there is anyone whose honor has been left unscathed by the Commander and notes that, because they all have a common cause, they should act together.
Juan Rojo points out that Isabel and Fernando are bringing peace to Castile, and the town should send two aldermen to ask them for help. But Barrildo doubts that Fernando will have time for their complaints in the midst of a war. They consider evacuating the town, but they know the Commander would never let them leave. The alderman points out that they are all overcome by panic at how much injustice they have faced.
Juan Rojo’s discussion contrasts the Commander with Isabel and Fernando, again showing how their Christian kindness and mercy makes ordinary people want to be ruled by them, while the Commander’s injustice makes the villagers want to band together and rise up against him. This reinforces the play’s message that only those who align themselves with Christian values are worthy of power.
Themes
When Juan Rojo asks what they should do, the alderman declares that the townspeople should die or kill the tyrant, saying, “we are many, they are few.” Barrildo, Esteban, and Mengo are reluctant to take up arms against their “overlord”—Esteban notes that God is on their side and will see justice done against the Commander, who is acting like a wild animal. But Juan Rojo disagrees, saying that if the Commander is continuing to burn their houses and vineyards and act like an animal, the townspeople should take revenge.
Here, Juan Rojo and some of the other men in the town start to recognize their need to fight the Commander by banding together as the “many” versus the “few.” This suggests that collective power is necessary to overcome tyranny from an “overlord.” Even though Esteban is hesitant about rising up against the Commander, he also notes that the Commander is no longer aligned with God or Christian values, and therefore is unfit to rule. His description of the Commander as an animal also speaks to how the Commander has been predatory and vicious toward the townspeople.
Themes
Just then, Laurencia enters, looking so disheveled that at first Esteban doesn’t even recognize her. Laurencia says she’s not his daughter, because he did not fulfill the duties of a father and protect her from the Commander: he just watched as the Commander carried her off like a wolf stealing sheep. The Commander’s men threatened her with knives and abusive words, and they did everything they could to steal her chastity.
Laurencia’s speech here again uses animals to reinforce the predator-prey relationship between her and the Commander. This symbol emphasizes that the Commander does not treat her as an equal but instead as something to be hunted. Unlike how her and Frondoso’s respectful relationship has brought joy and harmony to the town, the Commander’s treatment of Laurencia only creates disorder.
Themes
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Laurencia goes on, asking how they can call themselves men of honor or true fathers and not feel the pain of what she’s just experienced. She calls them timid hares, allowing other men to carry off their wives. She says the swords they have serve no purpose, and that women must be responsible for their own honor and make the tyrants pay. They must know that the Commander is going to have Frondoso hanged and will likely do the same to all the men, while the women will have to become as strong as Amazons and amaze the world.
Laurencia’s comparison of the men to hares is significant, as the Commander compared her to a hare earlier in the play. Given the villagers’ characterization of the Commander as a predator, this implies that they’ve all become hares (his prey) in allowing him to get away with his misdeeds. Laurencia again emphasizes how the women have to band together—like the Amazons, a legendary group of female warriors—in order to overcome the Commander’s tyranny.
Themes
Esteban says that he will not take Laurencia’s insults—he will go alone and confront the Commander. Juan Rojo agrees that he will go as well, and the other men join in, saying that they are “as one, a single voice.” They shout in praise of Isabel and Fernando and say that the tyrants have to die as they leave to grab their bows and lances.
Roused by Laurencia’s speech, the men recognize their power when they work as a “single voice.” Notably, the play implies that their banding together is only justified against tyrants like the Commander. They still praise the King and Queen, emphasizing that they still adhere to class hierarchies when given model rulers.
Themes
After the men leave, Laurencia calls the women of the town to restore their honor. The women convene, and Laurencia tells Pascuala, Jacinta, and the others that the men are taking up arms against the Commander in a common cause. She says that they should do the same, organizing into a woman’s regiment. They agree, waving their shawls as flags. When Pascuala suggests they choose one of the men as captain of the women’s regiment, Laurencia disagrees, saying that none of the men can match her in bravery. The women exit.
Like the men banding together, Laurencia and the other women are much more powerful when they form a collective. This group mindset is particularly empowering for the women, because as individuals, the Commander easily victimized them. But together, they are capable of overthrowing their tyrannical oppressor.
Themes
The scene shifts to the Commander’s home, where he, Flores, Ortuño, and Cimbranos have tied Frondoso’s hands. Just as the Commander tells them to hang Frondoso from the battlements, they hear a commotion outside. The villagers furiously bang on the doors, and the Commander realizes that the people are rising against him. The Commander tells his servants to untie Frondoso, and he implores Frondoso to calm the people. Frondoso says he’ll try, noting that the villagers are attacking the house because they love Frondoso dearly. He leaves.
This passage continues to show how the Commander and Frondoso are foils of each other. While the Commander is supposed to be the leader of the town because of his high rank, it is Frondoso’s honorable behavior (in contrast to the Commander’s dishonor) which leads the villagers to love him, and it’s why he may be able to calm them down. This is another example of how those of low class status cab have more honor than someone of high rank.
Themes
The Commander and his servants hear people shouting long live the King and Queen and that the Commander must die. While Flores tries to persuade the Commander to leave, the Commander insists that he should face the villagers himself. The villagers break through the doors, and the Commander tries to tell them that they should explain what injustices they have experienced so he can make things right. The villagers shout “Fuente Ovejuna” and “death to all false Christians and foul traitors!”
The townspeople rise up as one as they shout “Fuente Ovejuna,” showing how they are working together as a single entity to defeat the Commander’s tyranny. In addition, the Commander’s attempts to right his wrongs only come when he knows he is going to be overpowered—he was, after all, just about to hang Frondoso for no reason. The fact that the townspeople recognize this lack of mercy and justice is evident when they call the Commander a “false Christian.” The villagers refuse to back down, as they believe that this lack of Christian values makes the Commander unfit to rule.
Themes
The scene shifts outside the Commander’s house, where the women have just arrived, calling for vengeance on the Commander and saying that they will drink his blood and attack him with lances. They hear the men attacking the Commander and his servants, and Laurencia runs inside, saying that her sword is no use in its scabbard. Mengo chases Flores outside, and Pascuala asks Mengo to leave Flores to them, saying it’s appropriate for women to kill the traitor after he helped the Commander to assault so many of them. Laurencia then chases Ortuño out of the house. She insists that she’s going to kill him, and they all shout, “Fuente Ovejuna!”
Just as the men recognize their collective power in shouting “Fuente Ovejuna,” the women similarly find their own collective power and are able to get revenge on the servants who abused them so cruelly. It is also notable that the villagers’ language is very gruesome. But up until this point, they have been peaceful and kind, illustrating how tyrants can incite this violence in people and in some ways make it necessary. In this case, acting violently as a group is seemingly the only way for the villagers to escape their abuse.
Themes
The next day, back at the King and Queen’s castle, Manrique reports that their army was able to retake Ciudad Real after facing little opposition. Their soldiers will remain there to hold the town in case the enemies try to retake it. Just then, Flores enters, wounded, begging for the King’s help. He explains that the “faithless subjects” in Fuente Ovejuna have risen up without cause against the Commander. They broke into his house and ignored him—though he offered, as an “honorable man,” to hear their complaints.
Flores’s description of the townspeople is ironic and blatantly false given the play’s events up to this point. While Flores portrays the townspeople as “faithless subjects,” in reality they follow Christian values much more dutifully than the Commander does. And though Flores describes the Commander as an “honorable man,” the villagers, too, have shown themselves to be much more honorable. This is another aspect of the Commander’s (and Flores and Ortuño’s) tyranny, because Flores has the power to misrepresent what happened to the Commander and Fuente Ovejuna, potentially prompting more injustice.
Themes
Flores goes on: the villagers beat the Commander, threw him from the window onto where the women were standing with pikes and swords, tore his beard and face and mutilated him, smashed his coat of arms, and ransacked his house. Flores asks the King, who is renowned for being just, to make the criminals pay for their evil deeds. The King promises to investigate what happened and dispatches a judge and a captain to punish those who are to blame.
Here, the King shows that he is a model ruler, and one rooted in Christianity. Rather than simply taking Flores at his word and attacking the town or punishing the villagers, the King sends a judge to investigate what happened. This is a stark contrast to Flores and the Commander’s dishonesty and cruelty, and the play implies that the King’s desire to understand the situation and pursue true justice is what makes him a worthy king.
Themes
Back in Fuente Ovejuna, the villagers have the Commander’s head fixed on a lance. Musicians sing in praise of Fernando and Isabel while declaring death to tyrants. Frondoso sings another song, describing Isabel and Fernando’s pure and honest love, which will earn them a place in Heaven, and affirming that tyrants should be punished for their sins. Barrildo and Mengo also join in songs, praising the Catholic Kings and the end to tyranny. After the song, they remove the lance and put up the royal coat of arms outside the Council Chamber. Frondoso says it marks a new day for the town.
The villagers contrast the Catholic Kings (Spanish people’s nickname for Isabel and Fernando) and the Commander in several ways. Frondoso’s song implies that the King and Queen’s mutual respect and admiration not only makes their love strong but also makes them worthy of Heaven. In this way, the play again emphasizes that love and respect lead to virtuous harmony—both in a marriage and even in society at large. Moreover, the villagers’ songs are a testament to how Fernando and Isabel root their power in Christian values, unlike the Commander. In emphasizing that they want to be ruled by the king and queen, while calling the Commander a tyrant, the villagers suggest that only those who rule with Christian values are justified to hold that power.
Themes
Esteban addresses the villagers, saying that the King and Queen will likely investigate what happened in the town. He counsels them to say, on pain of death, that Fuente Ovejuna committed the crimes. They all agree, even rehearsing an interrogation and torture session to make sure they will all say that Fuente Ovejuna did it. Just then, the King and Queen’s judge and captain arrive and begin arresting everyone. Esteban tells them that they don’t have to be afraid—they just have to remember that Fuente Ovejuna committed the crime.
Esteban’s counsel to say that “Fuente Ovejuna” committed the crime of murdering the Commander illustrates how villagers can use their collective power not only to rid themselves of the Commander, but also to avoid punishment for doing so. This again underscores the need for collective power in overcoming tyranny and injustice.
Themes
The scene shifts to the Master and a soldier discussing what happened in Fuente Ovejuna. The Master is shocked that the village could commit such a dreadful crime, and he says that he will take 500 men and raze it to the ground. When the soldier points out that the town is faithful to Fernando and it would be a bad idea for the Master to anger him, the Master concedes, realizing that he, too, has to submit to the King’s authority. He feels shame for his mistakes, but his honor is what matters most, and he knows he has to be humble to regain it.
The Master’s attitude here contrasts with the King. While Fernando wants to listen to reason and investigate what happened, the Master is still motivated by rage and bloodthirstiness. Yet as the Master acknowledges that he has to be humble and restore his honor, he understands that honor isn’t just dependent on his social standing—he has to act virtuously in order to earn it.
Themes
Back in Fuente Ovejuna, Laurencia soliloquizes, explaining that being in love is stressful, as she constantly worries about Frondoso. She loves Frondoso and knows that her life means nothing if he is hurt or tortured. The fact that he’s still in the town makes her anxious, and yet she is tormented when he is not with her.
Laurencia’s soliloquy about love again reinforces that her and Frondoso’s relationship is strong because it is built on mutual respect. Moreover, this refutes Mengo’s argument in the first act that the only love is self-love, because Laurencia loves Frondoso so much that her life means nothing without him.
Themes
Frondoso enters, and Laurencia tells him that he shouldn’t be there, because he could be killed or tortured. Frondoso says he couldn’t turn his back on his friends or leave her alone to face the danger. Suddenly, they hear cries offstage, and they listen as a man is tortured. Still, despite his pain, the man says that Fuente Ovejuna killed the Commander. They also hear a young boy and Pascuala being tortured, but they, too, say that Fuente Ovejuna did it.
Frondoso again shows how honorable he is, and this passage also proves that he loves and respects Laurencia so much (more than himself) that he refuses to leave her behind. Additionally, as the judge tortures the townspeople, the play demonstrates that their solidarity is still playing a key part in helping them achieve justice, so that they can avoid being punished for ridding themselves of tyranny.
Themes
When the judge starts torturing Mengo, Laurencia and Frondoso worry that he’ll give up what happened, but Mengo stands strong and says that Fuente Ovejuna did it. After this, the judge says that he thought Mengo would crack, but the citizens are all sticking to their story. The judge says that this has become tiresome, and he orders all the villagers’ release. Frondoso and Laurencia are relieved.
The villagers’ concerns about Mengo illustrates that even though the townspeople are working collectively, each individual voice in their collective is crucial to avoid punishment. They are only able to avoid punishment because everyone banded together and stuck to their story.
Themes
Mengo, Barrildo, and an alderman enter, and everyone praises Mengo and gives him lemon curd and wine for his bravery. They help him dress, and the alderman and Barrildo help carry him off to his bed. After they leave, Frondoso teases Laurencia, asking who killed the Commander, and she says Fuente Ovejuna, saying that he doesn’t scare her. When Frondoso asks instead how he killed Laurencia, she says this: by making her love him to death.
The praise Mengo earns is important, as it shows how the villagers love and respect one another, just as Laurencia and Frondoso love and respect each other. And as a result of that respect and love, the villagers are able to restore peace and harmony in Fuente Ovejuna.
Themes
Later, the King and Queen both arrive separately in Fuente Ovejuna and greet each other warmly, surprised to see each other there. Isabel reports that everything is calm in Castile—that they have brought peace. Just then, Manrique brings the Master of Calatrava to speak to the King and Queen. The Master seeks their forgiveness, explaining that both the Commander and the Master’s own self-interest misled him. He declares that he will be their loyal servant in their campaign against Granada. He vows that he will not offend them again, and the King and Queen tell the Master that he is welcome with them because he is so penitent. The Master thanks them.
The warmth between the King and Queen echoes the love between Frondoso and Laurencia, showing how they, too, share a love based in mutual respect. Additionally, the Master’s penitence—and the King’s acceptance of that penitence—shows that those who are motivated by self-interest are not fit to rule, but those who are humble and act with justice and mercy are treated as model rulers. Lastly, the reference to Grenada illustrates why Christian values were so important to rulers at the time the play is set (the 15th century), as Grenada was still held by Muslim Moors. Therefore, Spanish Christians felt very threatened by forces motivated by something other than Christianity.
Themes
Manrique also reports that the judge who went to Fuente Ovejuna has returned. Hearing this, the Master says the murderers should get what they deserve, but the King states that the matter is no longer in the Master’s hands. The judge enters and reports that he made every effort to investigate, even torturing young boys, but the citizens all told him that Fuente Ovejuna is to blame. Thus, the King has to pardon all the townspeople or put them all to death. The villagers have come and wish to make their case, and the King asks them to enter.
Even when the Master has reconciled with the King and Queen, the play still demonstrates a distinction between them. When the Master shows his hot-headed side, insisting on punishing the villagers, the King knows that his rage makes him unable to make decisions. By contrast, the King is interested in actually pursuing justice.
Themes
Esteban enters with Frondoso, Laurencia, Mengo and other villagers. Laurencia comments on how fine a couple the King and Queen are. Esteban explains that they are humble and obedient servants who experienced the Commander’s tyranny and cruelty, which was the true cause of the trouble. The Commander robbed them, raped their women, and showed them no mercy. Frondoso chimes in, explaining that his wife, Laurencia, was carried off by the Commander on their wedding night as if she were his property—she only escaped because she fought to keep her virtue. Mengo also chimes in, noting that when he tried to save Jacinta from being raped by the Commander’s servants, the Commander had him beaten.
As the villagers tell their stories, they remind the audience of how much abuse they all individually suffered at the Commander’s hands—emphasizing that his dishonorable behavior and disrespect toward them was the cause of the conflict in Fuente Ovejuna. Without his tyranny—and particularly his lack of respect for the women in the town—they would not have had to resort to such extremes as to kill him. But as he disrespected them, he turned into exactly the sort of tyrant that the Commander himself criticized in the opening scene, and their only option to escape that tyranny was to kill him.
Themes
Esteban concludes by saying that they want to be the King’s vassals—they even displayed his coat of arms in the town. He asks the King to be merciful. The King rules that although this was a serious crime, there is no written evidence, so the townspeople must be pardoned, and the King will assume responsibility for the town until a new Commander can be found. Frondoso thanks the King for being a wise and just ruler.
The play’s final exchange ties up several threads. First, it illustrates how the citizens’ collective power not only enabled them to overcome tyranny, but also to avoid being punished for seeking justice. Second, it again emphasizes that the King and Queen are model rulers because they pursue justice and mercy—key Christian values. And lastly, the play underscores how the wisest people—like the King—are those who are willing to listen to reason and judge accordingly, rather than trusting flowery or manipulative language.
Themes
